Time In Woolf's Novels

Time is a comprehensive conception in Virginia Woolf's novel theory and creation,which includes philosophy,aesthetics,theme,form and so on.This concept of time,which is double-faced effective and dynamically developing,not only inherit traditional view,but also embodies modern time theory.In terms of view of time,Woolf believe traditional classification between subjective and objective,cyclical time and linear time.What's more,based on emphasizing subjective psychology,she put forward "Moments of Being",representative for her modern time view.Meanwhile,as she got a better cognition for "non-being",external reality and superficial ego,her attitude to objective time developed from confirmation,negation to re-confirmation.In terms of theme,there are two categories of the theme of personal time and the theme of impersonal time,which transfer dynamically.The theme of personal time inherits the personal sighs for short life in traditional literature,focuses on expression of personal life experience and slowly swifts focus to human self development.While the theme of impersonal time focuses on grand level,such as human being,history,world and so on,and eventually turns back to individual solicitude.In terms of aesthetics of time,affected by view of time and theme of time,the unique structures and expression skills of time create a multiple effects in Woolf's novels.The macroscopic time structure presents as a coexistence of the linear and circular time structure,as a result,creating a flexible rhythm of time.And subjective time in micro conception manifests mainly in the fusion of past,present and future.prominently protruding the out-of-order and leap-type flow of consciousness.Narrative internal monologue and internal analysis are the primary presentation skills for subjective time while the presentations of the objective time are time record,such as bells,and external events,such as characters' words and deeds.On the basis of distinction between subjective and objective time,there are two different time connective skills,including the connection of subjective time and the distinction between subjective and objective time.On the one hand,Woolf links the consciousness streaming of the same character like linking tunnels,and uses omniscient narrator,spatial,central stimulus and subject to connect the consciousness streaming between different characters.In order to distinguish between subjective time and objective time,subjective world and objective world,Woolf employs special verbs,conjunctions and punctuation in presentation way of objective time.No matter in the conception of time,or the theme,or the aesthetics,the time of Woolf's novels are double-faced effective and dynamically developing.She attempts to create an integrated,real and poetic masterpiece of time among tradition and modernity.