MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
BUI THUY LINH
MYTH IN MO YAN’S NOVELS
Speciality: Foreign Literature
Code: 9220242
ABSTRACT OF THESIS DOCTORATE OF LITERATURE
HANOI, 2020
THE THESIS IS COMPLETED AT
HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR:
1: Assoc. Prof. Ph.D NGUYEN THI MAI CHANH
2: Ph.D NGUYEN THI BICH DUNG
Reviewer 1: Prof. Ph.D Loc Phuong Thuy
Institute of Literature
Reviewer 2: Assoc. Prof. Ph.D Do Thu Ha
University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Reviewer 3: Assoc. Prof. Ph.D Nguyen Tuyet Thu
Academy of Journalism and Communication
The thesis will be defended at Council of Thesis Assessment of
Hanoi National University of Education
at ……, date… … ,month…, year 20…
The thesis can be found at:
National Library of Vietnam
Library of Hanoi national university of education
LIST OF THE AUTHOR’S PUBLICATIONS
1. Bui Thuy Linh (2014), “The breast and the Mother archetype in
Big Breasts and Wide Hips”, Journal of Chinese Studies Review, No.
6 (154)/2014, p. 31-41.
2. Bui Thuy Linh (2016), “Animal - human” - Special symbols in the Mo
Yan’s novel”, Collection of Literature studies, volume 2 (Yearbook of
Graduate Seminar, Faculty of Literature, Hanoi National University of
Education), HNUE Publishing House, p. 229-235.
3. Nguyen Thi Mai Chanh, Bui Thuy Linh (2016), “A Madman's Diary
by Lu Xun and the plea for help”, Journal Science (Social science),
Hanoi National University of Education, Vol. 61, No. 2, p. 10-14.
4. Nguyen Thi Mai Chanh, Bui Thuy Linh (2017), “The motif of
Cannibalism in The Republic of Wine: A Novel by Mo Yan from an
intertextual perspective”, Journal of Literature Studies, No. 1 – 2017,
p. 66-73.
5. Nguyen Thi Mai Chanh, Bui Thuy Linh (2017), “The Mythologization
of characters in The Republic of Wine by Mo Yan”, Journal of
Science and Technology, Thai Nguyen University, Vol. 170, No. 10 -
2017, p. 9-14.
6. Bui Thuy Linh (2017), “The sacrifice in Sandalwood Death (Mo
Yan)”, Journal of Science, Hanoi National University of Education 2,
No. 51, October 2017, p. 90-100.
7. Bui Thuy Linh (2018), “The Mythologization in some Mo Yan’s
novels”, Scientific Study project, Hanoi National University of
Education 2.
8. Nguyen Thi Mai Chanh, Bui Thuy Linh (2018), “Root-searching” in
the Mo Yan's novel”, Journal of Theory and Criticism of Literature
and Arts, July 2018, p.57-81.
1
INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
1.1. Mo Yan is one of the most well-known and prolific
contemporary Chinese writers. He is regarded as “the most talented
writer of China”, “the pioneer of the 21st century in Asia” and the figure
prided by China for his innovation of Chinese literature.
1.2. Throughout the writing career of Mo Yan, novel is the most
influential and affirmed genre. However, studies on Mo Yan and his
novels are currently focusing on features such as poetry, narratives,
sociology and political elements. By discussing about myth in Mo Yan’s
novels, this essay might suggest a new approach to Mo Yan’s novels in
particular and Mo Yan’s writings in general.
1.3. Myth as an accumulated spiritual value is often reproduced in
modern literary works as a source of mystic inspiration and as a writing
technique which “might soon be considered as one official writing
technique of contemporary novels”. Studying myth in literature,
specifically in Mo Yan’s novels, can help to affirm the eternal vitality of
myth as well as to dig deep into the roots that uphold values in Mo
Yan’s writings, through that consolidating his position and contributions
to the Chinese and world’s literature.
1.4. As lecturers who directly teach foreign literature, the study is a
valuable opportunity for us to enhance our scientific knowledge. It is
hoped that this subject might be a useful reference for teaching and
studying Chinese literature at Vietnamese schools and universities while
helping to foster the young generation’s love for foreign literature.
2
2. Aims and Objectives
2.1. Study aims
- Establishing a definition of “myth” in order to provide a
generalized perspective toward the theory of myth and myth in
literature; thus, providing a foundation for approaching, identifying and
analyzing myth in Mo Yan’s novels.
- Discovering special features of myth in Mo Yan’s novels in a
comparative perspective of the world-known and Chinese myths as well as
of similar myths written by other writers, thereby affirming Mo Yan’s
position and his contributions to contemporary Chinese and world literature.
- Clarifying the philosophy of Mo Yan in his approach to life and
human as well as his disticntive writing style.
2.2. Study objectives
- Providing an overview of typical literary theories about myth in
order to offer a definition of myth that is used in the thesis.
- Providing an overview of researches on myths in Mo Yan’s novels
conducted by domestic and foreign researchers.
- Explaining the roots of the myths in Mo Yan’s novels.
- Identifying, analyzing and explaining stereotypes of myths in Mo
Yan’s novels.
3. The scope of the study
3.1. The scope of the content
Stuyding myth in Mo Yan’s novels is limited to studying the
sources of the myths, typical myths in novels and the method of making
myths in Mo Yan’s novels.