A Narrative Study Of Food In Mo Yan's Novel

Food is an indispensable quality in the narrative process of Mo Yan’s novels.It actively participates in the narrative and becomes a unique narrative phenomenon in Mo Yan’s novels.The appearance of every food in Mo Yan’s works is an event,which is inextricably linked with the characters,stories and narrative styles he creates.As one of the conditions for the creation of immortal novels,the characters are closely related to the food in Mo Yan’s novels.In Mo Yan’s novels,food has gone beyond its own physical properties and become a discourse system suggesting the identity and personality traits of characters.On the one hand,through the different foods eaten by different people,Mo Yan suggests the social status,economic level and other identity characteristics of the characters;On the other hand,different people’s reactions to food are also used to show their personalities and psychological activities.It can be said that there is often an invisible force between food and characters in Mo Yan’s works.Food makes the characters he creates more three-dimensional,more life-like and more authentic.The implicit narrative process with food as the clue also participates in story construction in three aspects: story direction,narrative rhythm and narrative mode.In the course of the story,the implicit narrative with food as the clue is complementary to the explicit plot of the novel.Food is mainly used as the cause,progression,transition,bundling and other aspects of the narrative.It naturally participates in the narrative and quietly influences the direction of the story before readers are aware of it.Food narration is one after another.In the skills of delaying the climax and filling the narrative blank,food narration also skillfully grasping the rhythm of the story,which also influences the reading psychology of readers on this basis.Mo Yan’s novels also hide two completely different narrative Spaces between Northeast Gaomi Township and contemporary cities.In these two Spaces,Mo Yan returns to Northeast Gaomi Township with the help of food,confronts contemporary urban life,and sets up two different narrative modes.In addition,while completing the characterization and story construction,food has subtly completed the transformation of legendary,folk and carnival.Mo Yan created a legendary narrative style with the "strange" elements of food,exaggerated,deformed and pioneering techniques,and bizarre stories.With a folk stance,food is involved in the novel,and people’s life is detailed,so that the novel forms a folk narrative style.Also in each food narrative feast with gushing narration to highlight the carnival writing state.With the participation of food,the novel not only shows his deep understanding of the legend,but also presents a folk narrative style with carnival.