Inheritance And Beyond

Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov (1899—1977) is one of the most famous writers in the twentieth century. His writings are simultaneously recorded in the history of both Russian and American literature, and his Russian and English literary works are both masterpieces. For one reason or another, in China few people have studied Nabokov's writings, especially his early Russian works. Based on careful reading, from a comparative perspective, and by exploring the relationship between Nabokov's early Russian novels and Russian literary tradition, this paper points out that he inherits, develops, innovates and transcends the literary tradition, and concludes that there is a flesh-and-blood relationship between Nabokov's early Russian novels and Russian literary tradition. He inherits the traditional essence, but finally goes beyond the tradition, thus creating a new situation of his own and starting a new pattern of literature as well.As a "school of talent" writer paying attention to creativity, Nabokov hates the ignorance of the characteristics of his works and the talk about the traditional influence. However, no genius can be separable from the traditional influence and not learn a lot from tradition. Nabokov is no exception. By probing into Nabokov's Russian novels, the writer figures out that his works is closely related to the Russian literary tradition, which is the key to studying his works. Nabokov achieves his creativity and innovation through learning from and sublating the tradition. The mode of imitating and innovating the tradition is also available in his English novels.In addition to the introduction and conclusion, the paper consists of four chapters, which is divided into three parts. The first part, Chapter I and Chapter II, through narrow reading and case study, demonstrates how Nabokov's Russian novels inherit and go beyond the Russian literary tradition, with Chapter I focusing on his works' close relation with and going against the tradition and Chapter II focusing on his composing and uncovering the riddles with "elegant solutions". The second part, Chapter III, demonstrates how Nabokov's Russian novels inherit and develop Russian poetic novels. The third part, Chapter IV, elaborates on the concept of freedom in Nabokov's Russian novels and its relation with the humanitarian tradition of Russian literature, to refute the misconception that there is a lack of "love and care for people" and "Russianism" in his works. In fact, Nabokov inherits and develops the humanitarian tradition in Russian literature. His concept of freedom not only echoes the theme of freedom in Russian literature, but also reflects the distinctive imprint of his own.