A Study On Myth Theme Works Of Chinese Modem Literature

After the literary revolution in1917, with Lu Xun’s poem《Cupid》as a beginning,a large number of myth theme works came into being in Chinese modern literature.This is definitely not an accidental and isolated cultural phenomenon, but the Chineseculture and western culture, national literature and world literature, literary creationand realistic context relationship collide with each other, influence each other andproduce a unique literary expression, as well as a special performance of traditionalculture in the field of Chinese modern literature. At the same time, it also result formthe Chinese modern writers consciously pursuit and intentionally creation.From the point of view of process of Chinese modern myth theme literature,Chinese ancient myth theme literature is the literature origin of Chinese modern myththeme literature. The research upsurge of myth in the May Fourth period can not beignored role in Chinese modern myth theme literature creation. Many were engagedin studying myth and translation of western myth, later became the main group ofwriters in myth theme literature creation. In the process of myth theme literaturecreation, Chinese modern writers did not stay in the elaborate interpretation of theoriginal myth, but on the basis of their aesthetic ideal and social demand for literatureto enrich, adapt and recreate the original myth. From the creation intention, Chinesemodern writers write myth theme literature is mainly to enlightenment, metaphorreality and expressing feelings.Some myth images, narrative structure and genre of character appeared over andover again in the myth theme works of Chinese modern literature. The old mytharchetypes hid behind their back. Salvation archetype, regeneration archetype,revenge archetype and pursuit archetype had been frequently shown by Chinesemodern writers. In the modern Chinese writer’s pen, these myth archetypes originallycarrying the primitive human psychological experience are full of realism andrevolutionary character, even covered with political color. Salvation archetypeprojects the expectation of Chinese modern writers to the hero who rescue the nation and country, regeneration archetype loads their ideal to bury the old society and createa new one, revenge archetype expresses their willingness to resist and revenge thereactionary rulers, and pursuit archetype passes on their longing for ideal world andfree life.Due to the influence of time background, realistic context and aesthetic idea,different writers use the same myth theme to create literature works unavoidablyexisting differences. In the myth theme works of Chinese modern literature, writersmostly created works from the myth of Chang E flying to the moon, the white snakelegend, Prometheus stealing fire, Jesus suffering religious legends. The works whichuse the myth subject-matter of Chang e flying to the moon show a colorful literarycreation. From the point of character image, some shape a selfish image of Chang E,while some shape a good character of Chang E. From the point of the theme, someembody personal feelings, and some use myth to satirize the present reality. From theartistic style of work, some still retains the color of myth, while others presentrealistic and secular style. The works using white snake theme mainly show twodifferent creation tendencies. One continues to perform the love between man and theelf, and the other does realistic rewriting. In Prometheus theme of works, the Chinesemodern writers shape two Prometheus image, one is as the god of stealing fire, andthe other is a symbol as a martyr. In the works of originating from religious myth ofJesus suffering, some express appreciation to the great sacrifice of Jesus, while othersquestion the spirit of Jesus, presenting two completely opposite ideology purport. Themyth theme works of Chinese modern literature had already completed thereconstruction of the ancient myth, and also implemented the personalized art ofwriting.The myth theme works of Chinese modern literature have their own features. Onthe construction of narrative space-time, myth theme works of Chinese literaturecreatively make the illusory time and space together with the real time and space intothe works, showing two space-time structures. In the aesthetic form, myth themeworks of Chinese literature by narrations at the decline and death of the mythical godor hero, the performance of the spirit of struggling against the fate and suffering, reflects the tragedy of the art form. In creative skills, these works mainly usemetaphor, through the metaphor of characters and plots in the works secretly reflectthe social reality. By this metaphor of artistic technique, the myth theme works ofChinese literature play the role of “combat weapons” to expose the dark and reflectthe reality in the culture control and difficult historical background.Through the study of myth theme works of Chinese modern literature, this paperdraws two conclusions: one is that myth is not broken, though Chinese modern writersemphasize realism and face the reality of life; another is that literature of myth themeand realistic literature are not completely opposite. The myth theme works created bymodern Chinese writers, not only can awaken some common ethnic psychologicalmood, make us feel the charm of the myth, but also can reflect the realities of actuallife. The myth theme woks of Chinese modern literature provide us with someenlightenment about how reforming and utilizing traditional culture resources in themodern society.