Literary Wisdom -- Getting Closer to Western Fiction (Comparative Literature and Aesthetics Series)

Author: Gong Hanxiong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: This book is divided into two parts. The first part consists of two chapters: "The Historical Fate of Western Fiction in Literary History" and "Fiction Research and Narratology." The former reviews the major milestones in the rise and development of Western fiction based on the author's understanding of Western fiction history, and attempts to answer some intriguing questions, such as: Why did Western fiction originate during the Renaissance? What conditions made the 19th century the "century of fiction"? What severe challenges did Western fiction face in the new cultural reality of the 20th century, and how did it overcome them? The author also compares traditional fiction with modern fiction in this historical review, providing a summary introduction and analysis of the social and historical implications of Western fiction from different periods (which will not be discussed in the following sections). The intention is to give readers a general understanding of the "big picture" of Western fiction to avoid seeing the forest for the trees. The chapter "Fiction Research and Narratology" focuses on the research conducted by Western writers and scholars on fiction before narratology, as well as the relationship between narratology and fiction research. Some specific content will be thoroughly explored in the chapters of the second part. In summary, the first part serves as the foundation for the second part. In terms of length, the second part is the main section of the book, consisting of five chapters, organized around the various elements that constitute fiction (such as plot, character, point of view, time and space, structure). In the chapters of the second part, we will not only engage with and analyze important theoretical issues about fiction art but also apply theory to the analysis of selected fictional texts from specific perspectives. We begin with traditional fiction before transitioning to modern fiction, allowing readers to see the development of Western fiction art in various aspects more concretely. Each chapter of the book selects key works for in-depth and detailed analysis, hoping to reveal the artistic originality of the authors and their works from multiple angles. The author places great emphasis on this, believing that without it, the book's purpose would be unfulfilled. However, it is clear that this approach differs significantly from general "appreciation" articles, especially from those that follow standardized commentaries. Instead, it represents a personalized interpretation of actual texts, infused with the awareness of modern fiction theory. The author hopes that this book will be helpful to readers in both fiction theory and the artistic analysis of fiction. Among the vast sea of Western fiction, the author spent considerable thought selecting which works to analyze. Goethe once advised Eckermann: "Taste is not cultivated by looking at mediocre works but by looking at the best works," and "I will only let you see the best works. Once you have a solid foundation in the best works, you will have a standard to measure other works by." Readers will see that the "classical" fiction discussed in this book are all "classic" works that have stood the test of time, and in modern fiction, they are as widely acclaimed and enduring masterpieces as possible. The above is the author's main conception of this book; as for whether these conceptions are appropriate or whether they have been realized, that is for the readers to judge.