Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2012, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (6): 24-31.

• 史外文学叙事研究 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Motifs and the Narrative Pandering to Noble Prize of Literature: On the Narrative Features of the Novels written by CAO Nai--qian, a Shanxi Farmer Writer

LIU Xu   

  • Online:2012-11-15 Published:2012-11-20
  • Contact: LIU Xu
  • About author:LIU Xu

Abstract: CAO Nai--qian’s novels do have something special and distinctive. The narrative is quite simple and the strategy of keeping extremely backwards in narrating creates real and persuasive objective effect. Because of omitting and little narrate intervenes, there is boundless space for readers’ interpretation. The profound reveal of the poverty and ignorance in villages in China creates a unique world of Yanbei (regions north of Yanmen Pass) in terms of meaning instead of cultural object. However, with CAO’s indulgence in poverty and ignorance in his whole writing career, there are three basic motifs in his literature: poverty, ignorance and sexual desire. Each motif appears repeatedly in all his works, which means to simplify and defame villages in China. It is the narrative pandering to the Noble Prize of literature and the abnormal yearning for western identity that cause CAO Nai--qian to take himself out of the reality in China in his novels. This is a serious issue which Chinese writers shall take into consideration.

Key words: Noble Prize of literature, motif, pre--modern era