From fictitious narratives to subject writings : the establishment and characteristics of animal fiction in the 21st century China = 從虛擬敘事走向主體書寫 : 廿一世紀動物小說的確立及其特點

Abstract

The animal narratives in fictional writings have evolved a process of gradual development. And the concept of animal fiction was always misinterpreted by scholars and writer due to their different perspectives. In fact, a clear idea of animal fiction should be defined and understood which would facilitate and favor the study and the growth of the genre. The dissertation attempts to review the gradual changes of the animal narratives and investigate deeply the formation and its features of animal fiction in the 21st century China. The establishment of animal fiction corresponds to the transformation of the roles played by animals from symbolic imageries to the subjects of the narratives. Animal fiction has demonstrated animals’ complicated characters and emotions, their relationship with humans, as well as the changes in society. As a new genre of fiction, animal fiction embraces distinctive narrative methods. This is especially true for the psychological descriptions concerning animals: the new genre has evolved particular styles in its narrative structure and the images of its subjects for the effective delivery of themes. The contents of each chapter of the dissertation are as follows: Chapter One is a preface explaining the origins, development, research scope and research method of the dissertation. Close readying strategies and narratology theories are used to figure out how the genre animal fiction has been established. Chapter Two discusses traditional animal narratives and how writers made breakthroughs. Animals in the animal narratives in the past century were usually used as a medium to symbolize or imply other meanings. This is the very reason why animal narratives were classified under children literature. The subjectivity of animals has been underrepresented until realistic animals began to appear in fiction. Chapter Three addresses the development and changes of animal narratives in modern and contemporary Chinese literature. Most animals in modern literature were used as the means to express humanity, while those in the early contemporary literature, influenced by anti-ecological ideologies, were always depicted as the subjects to be conquered. It was not until the new century that animals began to be portrayed more realistically in literary works. Chapter Four reviews themes that are commonly seen in animal fiction. They include how urbanization and the change of rural values affected animal life, and the problems wild animals faced. Chapter Five probes the narrative styles, namely structure, language features and the use of animal imagery, of animal fiction. Chapter Six is a conclusion appraising the literary and cultural values and meaning of animal fiction.