Generally speaking, literary style is a very broad concept, which includes not only the writer's style, but also genre style, era style, national style and so on. But in general, we mainly refer to the work style, because other styles are covered in the work style and expressed through the work style. At the same time, the formation of the style of a work is inseparable from other styles, and it is the collection of other styles that forms the style of a work.
[Keywords:]: literary style Shen Congwen national culture characteristics of the times, regional civilization writers themselves
[text]:
What is the style of writing?
There are always different opinions about the definition of literary style.
One view is that the style is the style chosen by the writer with his unique aesthetic ideal and taste. For example, poetry has a strong metrical style, novels adopt a narrative style close to life, drama requires dialogue style to conform to stage performance, and prose adopts a cordial and natural style. The style here is not only a genre but also a language style. For example, Lu Xun is depressed and profound, Guo Moruo is unrestrained and enthusiastic, Zhou Zuoren is diluted and peaceful, and Mao Dun is bright and delicate.
This view is represented by Danner, a French literary theorist in the19th century. As far as novels are concerned, he thinks there are three elements, one is the character with distinct personality, the other is the story and experience of the character, and the third is the style. He said that style comes from language: "A book is just a series of sentences, either spoken by the author or told by his characters;" Our eyes and ears can only capture these sentences, and everything we can feel between the lines depends on these sentences as a medium. So style is the third main element. "
In addition, in Liu Xie's "GT; There is such a description in the book: "The husband's love is in love, and the haircut is seen in the text; The cover is hidden and even obvious because of the inside. But there is a brave king who combines rigidity and softness, and learns shallowly and elegantly. It is precisely because the pen area is misty and the literary garden is mysterious that it is attracted by emotion and condensed by pottery and dye. Therefore, it is called a brave army and cannot be turned over; Funny and rigid, not to change its spirit; Things are shallow and deep, and they are unheard of; Elegant posture rarely goes against its habits: teachers are sincere and their differences are as good as their faces. " If you always return to painting, there are eight aspects: elegance, elegance, elegance, complexity, elegance, novelty and luxury. "
Schopenhauer said: "Style is the form of the soul, and it is individual, which is more suitable for the seclusion of the face." Imitating other people's styles, such as wearing a mask, will soon arouse disgust, no matter how good it is, because it is lifeless; So the ugliest' living' face is better than this. "
What I said above is the view that "style is man" put forward by the French writer Buffon. It coincides with China's ancient viewpoint that "words speak from the heart" and "writing is like a person". Qian Zhongshu made a further analysis of this. He believes that people should not be judged by their words, because "what they say can be disguised: it is also true that a traitor is worried about the national language and an affectionate person is writing in the ice and snow." His writing style is often. The anxious style cannot be completely clear and heroic, nor can it be completely cautious. Writing is like a person, neither here nor there. " It can be seen that the "writing" of "writing as a person" is not "what is said", but refers to the style in the work, and the style is the natural expression of the author himself.
Obviously, the above two views are one-sided. Let's take a look at the viewpoints that occupy an important position in modern literary theory.
German linguist and literary theorist William Vikner pointed out: "In all artistic fields (painting, sculpture, music, etc.). ), the style we talk about always refers to showing a person's internal characteristics in external expression through unique signs. "
Goethe divided literary creation into three different realms: simple imitation style of nature. He said: "simple imitation is based on quiet existence and the blending of things and me;" Style is to grasp the phenomenon with dexterous and energetic temperament; Style is based on the deepest principles of knowledge and the essence of things, and should be understood in a tangible form. " Goethe believes that style is "the highest state that art can reach, and art can compete with the noblest efforts of mankind."
It can be seen that their styles are divided into two levels, one is the external expression, that is, the literary works composed of words, and the second level is also more important, that is, the inherent characteristics implied in literary works, which can be described by "the spirit of literary works" or "the charm". Often don't say it directly, also can't say it directly. It is expressed through external forms and separated from the external aspects of literary works.
As the highest realm of literary creation, style is a symbol of a writer's maturity and a badge that distinguishes a writer from other writers.
The so-called literary style is the writer's spiritual personality in the organic unity of the content and form of a series of works.
Second, Shen Congwen's literary style
We know what literary style is. Let's take Shen Congwen as an example to see the concrete embodiment of literary style.
When we mention Shen Congwen, our first impression is that he left us a picture of "Xiangxi World". With a fresh, soothing, natural, smooth, quiet and beautiful style, he described the primitive and natural life form of Xiangxi and praised the beauty of human nature. In Shen Congwen's view, Xiangxi world is a "divine" world and a kingdom of love and beauty. Taking Border Town as the representative, the author depicts the beautiful scenery of the border town in western Hunan, embodies a "beautiful, healthy and natural life form" and depicts a group of lively and lovely characters with a quiet and distant style, gentle and soft style and poetic artistic conception.
This is mainly reflected in his novels and essays, which is the main style that distinguishes him from other local writers at that time. For example, Lu Xun, who started the local novel, saw the rundown and backwardness of rural areas in China, and wanted to inspire more people through his own works, with a strong sense of enlightenment. However, Shen Congwen's main performance was not the feudal color of the countryside at that time, nor the nostalgia for the countryside. It is a universal ideal factor of human beings hidden in the rural lifestyle, namely "love" and "beauty". Therefore, he seldom criticizes the rural life style, nor examines it from the height of a judge or an enlightener, but discovers the nuances of rural life with an equal attitude.
Besides, Shen Congwen is a prolific writer. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he turned to study China's historical relics and published many academic works. His literary styles in his life are diverse.
Third, the reasons for the formation of literary style
The formation of a writer's literary style is multifaceted. Generally speaking, it includes at least the following elements:
1, characteristics of the times
Different times have different cultures, so writers living in the times have to be deeply influenced by the atmosphere of the times, which can also be described as "the limitations of the times". Literary style always reflects the cultural characteristics of the times and forms the literary style of the times. This is grasped from the height of history and society, and only belongs to the overall characteristics of literature in a specific era.
The formation of the style of the times is not only influenced by the scene and context of the times, but also closely related to the development law of literature itself.
Shen Congwen lived in the revolutionary era of the 20th century. Although I am in Xiangxi, I still can't escape the influence of the revolutionary trend. 19 17 after graduating from primary school, he joined the local local army and roamed the border areas of Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei and Guizhou. 1922, influenced by the aftermath of the May 4th Movement, he went to Beijing to teach himself to write. 1924 embarked on the road of literary creation.
Shen Congwen, who entered the city from the desolate and remote western Hunan, has never really integrated into the cultural circle of the city. He has always regarded himself as a "countryman", used a countryman's vision and position to measure the strength of vitality, criticized the beauty and ugliness of moral concepts, launched a criticism of urban "cultural diseases" and criticized the alienation of urban human nature.
Especially after 1948 was severely criticized by the left-wing cultural circles, his fate was completely changed and his early literary creation was abandoned. His later works are mainly academic works, and his style of writing has been greatly improved.
2. National culture
Different nationalities have different national cultural traditions. Writers live in this national cultural tradition and have been influenced by this culture since the moment they landed. Their works are naturally national, forming the national style of literature.
Although Shen Congwen is not regulated by the traditional education system in China, his hometown is a typical Chinese village with local civilization in China, so his novels widely absorb the nutrition of Chinese folk literature.
3. Regional civilization
Different regions have different cultures. As the saying goes, "Five miles have different winds and ten miles have different customs." The writer lives in it, and his literary style inevitably permeates the factors of regional culture, including not only the natural environment but also the social environment. Born in remote and desolate Xiangxi, Shen Congwen retains many primitive factors, such as the simplicity of folk customs and the harmony and tranquility between man and nature, which makes him feel infinite nostalgia when he enters the metropolis. This nostalgia is no longer the real Xiangxi world, and the real Xiangxi has changed, but he is not reconciled, so he vigorously describes the sincere and simple human beauty of his ideal Xiangxi world, which is in sharp contrast with the hypocritical and deceptive urban culture.
4. The writer himself
Writers have different living environments, personality characteristics and hobbies, so their creative motives are different and their literary styles are different.
When talking about his own creation, Shen Congwen once said, "I just want to build a small Greek temple ... exquisite, strong and symmetrical." Although small but not exquisite, it is my ideal building. This temple is dedicated to' human beings'. " In "Border Town", a "small Greek temple", the author enshrines his own life ideals. Love and beauty are perfectly combined, and people treat each other sincerely. However, the ending of this ideal life is not perfect, but the author thinks it is "divinity" and providence.
Shen Congwen has a kind of "unspeakable warm love" for his hometown. He praised everything in his hometown with his works, and explored the lifestyle of his hometown people with his works, namely "nature, freedom and self-care".
To sum up, the formation of literary style is inseparable from the characteristics of the times, national culture, regional civilization and the writer's own creative interest. In addition, there are many factors. For example, the development law of literary works themselves. Therefore, literary style is comprehensive, and the discussion of literary style is also a complex task.
References:
1, monographic study of modern and contemporary literature in China, edited by Li Ping, Peking University Publishing House, 2003.
2. Twelve Talks on Centennial Literature, translated by Chen En et al., Fudan University Press, 2004.
3. Introduction to Literature, edited by Yu Sanding, Nanjing University Press, 2004.
4. Literary Theory, edited by Liu Anhai and Sun Wenxian, Central China Normal University Press, 2002.