The Research On Wenkang's Novel Theory

Wenkang is a novelist in the middle and late Qing Dynasty. His novel concept and theoretical insights can be found in The Tale of Heroic Sons and Daughters. From the research status, there is still blank in the systematic study of Wenkang's novel theory. Based on his existing poetry and The Tale of Heroic Sons and Daughters(Comment edition of Dong Xun), This paper has analyzed the Wenkang's novel theory and evaluated his special status in the novel history of ancient China.The paper is mainly divided into four parts. According to the literature material, The Chapter one has analyzed Wenkang's life experience, interest hobby and his friends association and dissected his literary thoughts and views from his existing poetry and articles.Relying on historical background where he lived, it has discussed the cultural policy of Qing Dynasty and Wenkang's cultural mentality. After discussing the understandings and insights of novel from Ming dynasty to Qing dynasty, Chapter two has analyzed Wenkang's views on the essence of the novel, such as the definition of a novel, the origin of the novel, the status of the novel and the function of the novel. Then this chapter comes to a conclusion of Wenkang's unique novel concept. With the combination of dominant criticism and Hidden compilation techniques in the novel, Chapter three has discussed and sorted Wenkang's novel compilation and writing system. This chapter is divided into four sections: the discussion of plot structure,novel characters, novel grammar and writing method and it has also analyzed the Wenkang's pursuit for plain and elegant writing and his writing concept of narrative structure. Chapter four has discussed other issues in Wenkang's novel theory, involving novel intertextuality phenomenon and his criticism and appreciation on the A dream of Red Mansions and other novels.The epilogue of this academic paper, it points out the breakthrough and deficiency of Wenkang's novel theory and summarized his status and unique value in the novel theory history of ancient China. Wenkang' novel thoughts represent views and criticism of the novel in the specific times and have certain enlightenment for the writing and criticism of contemporary literature.