Research On Spatial Narration In Going North By Xu Zechen

Going North is a new novel by contemporary writer Xu Zechen.Upon its publication,the novel has received wide acclaim and won the 10 th Mao Dun Literature Prize,CCTV’s 2018 China Good Books Award,and the Five One Project Award of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee.As an important medium,the canal connects the self with the world,which contains many deep meanings.Xu Zechen chose the canal as the main subject to write,which is a valuable and significant exploration of the history of the spiritual civilization of the Chinese nation.This paper takes Xu Zechen’s novel Going North as the research object,and uses relevant theories such as spatial narratology and literary geography to dig and discuss the deep implication,aesthetic paradigm and value of the text from the aspects of spatial presentation,spatial narrative strategy and ideological metaphor.This paper first sorts out the value and significance of the topic,research status,spatial narrative theory and its development,tries to highlight the current value of Xu Zechen’s novel creation through the study of spatial narrative of the text,and tries to make innovations in research perspectives and viewpoints.Secondly,starting from the two basic forms of macro space and micro space presented by the text,it is believed that Xu Zechen’s depiction of the rural space full of poetry and suffering is actually a reflection of the rural China that is gradually moving away.The description of Beijing is to regard it as a concentrated expression of desire and dream.It not only embodies the factors of traditional Chinese culture,but also goes through the process of modern civilization.In a certain sense,it represents China and signifies the history and future of China.The canal space in the novel is mainly the writing of the Grand Canal.It can not only be regarded as the "road" space-time body,connecting the present and the past,the hometown and the distance,and witnessing the fate of ordinary people and the difficult transition from ancient China to modern China.It is also a compass,indicating the direction of the world.In a way,the canal also represents a way of thinking about China.Thirdly,the spatial narrative structure of Going North is summarized as "intertextuality" structure and "orange pedicle" structure,and it is pointed out that the construction of the history of the Grand Canal should not only be from the perspective of "self",but also from the perspective of "the other" which plays an immeasurable role in the integration of the salvage of the historical fragments of the canal.Finally,the author believes that Going North revives the ups and downs of China in the past hundred years through the description of the Grand Canal,and probes into the secret national history through the description of the customs and human feelings.The novel expresses the theme of globalization in today’s society through the story of the Grand Canal.Xu Zechen constantly explores the "Chinese imagination" under the background of globalization,and tries to establish a harmonious relationship beyond countries and between people with the help of the Grand Canal.