Narrative Strategies and Aesthetic Effects of "Child Perspective" in Xiao Hong's Novels from the Perspective of Narratology — Centered on The Story of Hulan River
Abstract
The Story of Hulan River is one of the representative works with unique artistic achievements in the history of modern Chinese literature. Its literary value and artistic effects have been highly recognized by famous writers. "A narrative poem, a colorful local custom painting, and a string of sad and gentle ballads". Mr. Mao Dun highly summarized the aesthetic characteristics of The Story of Hulan River with these words. The reason why it can achieve such unique artistic effects is not only because of its rich and profound content, but also because of the author's innovative use of child perspective in writing. Through the naive and ignorant observation and narration of the little girl protagonist, it shows the human feelings and social conditions of the small town of Hulan River. This perspective not only gives ordinary life a defamiliarized and poetic filtering effect, but also reflects the numbness and cruelty of the adult world with children's innocence, forming an implicit and profound social criticism. In the tension between lightness and heaviness, vitality and decay, Xiao Hong completed the recollection and reflection of the cultural genes of her hometown, and also made the work transcend personal memories and become a cultural fable of the national living conditions.
References
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