Lu Xun's Contribution To Critical Discourse Analysis

This thesis focuses on two questions: on the one hand, why Lu Xun is so effective in his cultural and social criticism;and immediately on the other hand, what could current discipline of critical discourse analysis learn from Lu Xun? To answer these two questions, firstly in chapter 2, the rationality of comparing Lu Xun with a critical discourse analyst is proved, as all three essential components of CDA, namely, 'critical', 'discourse' and 'analysis', have been identified in Lu Xun's Zawen writing, with his distinctiveness though. Chapter 3 serves as an introduction to the method and framework of present study of Lu Xun. Three factors (social condition, genre and the writer) from traditional Chinese stylistics are borrowed so as to construct a holistic view of Lu Xun and his works. Hence in the next three chapters, discussion is unfolded in accordance with these three factors. Specifically, in chapter 4, Lu Xun is found to be writing both in compliance with and counterattacking against his social condition;in chapter 5, Lu Xun's unique Zawen writing techniques are exemplified as great facilitators to his rhetoric. However, the emphasis is laid on the discussion of the decisive factor of the 'writer', as in chapter 6, Lu Xun's life, personality and two aspects of his thought (his view on Chinese traditional culture and foreign culture) are thoroughly discussed. And Lu Xun's multicultural learning and disposition are shown as his fundamental character. Therefore, in chapter 7, two merits are concluded as Lu Xun's contribution to critical discourse analysis, namely, his multicultural stance on the one hand and his literary style on the other hand. Besides, two implications are drawn from current research, namely, the significance of rediscovering local non-western linguistic method, and the importance of studying the 'writer' in discourse analysis.