Chinese 4402
Scholarship Summary (5)
Yilin Zhang
In Mei Chun’s scholarly article “Garlic and Vinegar: The Narrative Significance of Verse in the ‘Pearl-Shirt Reencountered’” of the book Chinese Literature: Article, Essays, Review 31, Chun examines “The Pearl Shirt Reencountered”, which is the first story in Feng Menglong’s collection Stories Old and New. Some modern scholars consider the prosimetric form, “the incorporation of verse in prose narrative” (p. 23), to be redundant, superficial and counterproductive for narrative purposes in a written text. Nevertheless, Chun claims that verse is a crucial element in vernacular fiction, and Chun analyzes the narrative significance of the prosimetric form in Feng’s “The Pearl Shirt Reencountered”. When analyzing the verse and prose in “The Pearl Shirt Reencountered”, Chun emphasizes that the highly structured utilization of the prosimetric form creates a moralizing and policing voices. This part helps the readers …show more content…
Moreover, verse became a crucial and significant narrative space where Feng could assert his narrative creativity. The above-mentioned verse ignores the true devotion between the couple, which is suggested in the latter part of the prose narrative: Sanqiao still has a deep love for Xingge, so she continues to help him. The prose narrative, in which “human love and helplessness is presented in touching detail” (p.35), points to the invalidity of the careless-crafted moralistic generalizations of the verse. According to Chun, Feng revised the story and participated in late-Ming intellectual debates through the “jarring juxtaposition of a conservative Neo-Confucian moralistic voice and a sympathetic and tolerant rival voice” (p. 39). And through utilizing the prosimetric form, Feng expressed his dislike for the ossified and conservative Neo-Confucian moralistic
Scholarship Summary (5)
Yilin Zhang
In Mei Chun’s scholarly article “Garlic and Vinegar: The Narrative Significance of Verse in the ‘Pearl-Shirt Reencountered’” of the book Chinese Literature: Article, Essays, Review 31, Chun examines “The Pearl Shirt Reencountered”, which is the first story in Feng Menglong’s collection Stories Old and New. Some modern scholars consider the prosimetric form, “the incorporation of verse in prose narrative” (p. 23), to be redundant, superficial and counterproductive for narrative purposes in a written text. Nevertheless, Chun claims that verse is a crucial element in vernacular fiction, and Chun analyzes the narrative significance of the prosimetric form in Feng’s “The Pearl Shirt Reencountered”. When analyzing the verse and prose in “The Pearl Shirt Reencountered”, Chun emphasizes that the highly structured utilization of the prosimetric form creates a moralizing and policing voices. This part helps the readers …show more content…
Moreover, verse became a crucial and significant narrative space where Feng could assert his narrative creativity. The above-mentioned verse ignores the true devotion between the couple, which is suggested in the latter part of the prose narrative: Sanqiao still has a deep love for Xingge, so she continues to help him. The prose narrative, in which “human love and helplessness is presented in touching detail” (p.35), points to the invalidity of the careless-crafted moralistic generalizations of the verse. According to Chun, Feng revised the story and participated in late-Ming intellectual debates through the “jarring juxtaposition of a conservative Neo-Confucian moralistic voice and a sympathetic and tolerant rival voice” (p. 39). And through utilizing the prosimetric form, Feng expressed his dislike for the ossified and conservative Neo-Confucian moralistic