Describe the constituent elements and main methods of expression of poetry, prose and fiction respectively

I. The traditional Chinese "dichotomy"

All textual genres are divided into two categories: rhyme and prose.

Based on the external characteristics of the text, i.e., the formal elements of language.

This classification is too general, does not address issues such as subject matter and composition, and makes it difficult to distinguish between literary and non-literary texts, and has now been abandoned.

II. Western "dichotomy"

1. Aristotle's "dichotomy" in the Poetics is representative of his distinction between epic and drama based on the means by which the text imitates reality. Since epic imitates reality through language, unlike drama, which involves the intervention of music, it is regarded as a type of literature in the strict sense of the word. As for the linguistic expression of the epic, it can be either rhymed or unrhymed prose.

Also the dichotomy, the Western classical literature represented by Aristotle's focuses more on the intrinsic characteristics of the text such as the means of medium.

2. Dichotomy

The dichotomy represented by Aristotle did not mention lyric poetry, which was replaced by the trichotomy when lyric poetry gained a higher status in literature.

3. The trichotomy is a method of dividing various kinds of literature into narrative, lyric, and dramatic categories on the basis of the choice of subject matter, the way of conceptualization and emotional experience, and the expressive methods of image-building.

III.

Narrative literature focuses on the objective world and the virtual world of events, characters and environmental scenery as the subject matter content, imitation, fiction as a way of conceptualization, specific and vivid narrative as the main artistic expression methods, so as to reflect and express the creative subject of the social life of the aesthetic grasp of the literary works. Narrative is the basic aesthetic characteristic of narrative literature. Narrative literature includes novels, epic poems, narrative poems, story poems, historical biographies, and report literature.

Lyrical literature is a literary work that focuses on the subjective feelings of the lyrical protagonist as the content of the subject matter, the inner feelings and experiences as the way of conceptualization, and the direct expression as the main artistic expression method, so as to express the creative subject's perception and flavor of nature, society, and life. Lyricism is a prominent aesthetic characteristic of lyric literature. Lyric literature mainly includes lyric poems, lyric essays, prose poems and so on.

Drama literature is a kind of literature focusing on the conflict in life as the subject matter, simulating and reproducing the virtual reality as the way of conception, and using the characters' own behavioral actions and lines as the main artistic expression methods, thus reflecting the creative body's aesthetic grasp of the social life.

Four. Tetralogy

1, China's "tetralogy" of literary texts into poetry, novels, essays, dramatic literature four categories. Some add film and television literature on this basis.

China's tetralogy is based on the external form of the literary text, while taking into account the choice of subject matter, the image of the image of the characteristics of the text of the linguistic characteristics of the system based on the length as a method of division of the literary genre.

2. Canadian poet Frye's tetrad

He said: "The central principle of literary categories is quite simple, and the basis of the distinction between literary categories seems to be the principle of performance. Words can be acted out in front of an audience, they can be spoken in front of an audience; or they can be sung, or they can be written for the reader."

([Canadian] Northrop? Frye, The Anatomy of Criticism, translated by Chen Hui and others, Hundred Flowers Literary Publishing House, 1998 edition, p. 308)

"Poetry performed in front of an audience is a drama; recited in front of an audience is a narrative poem; sung or recited by one's self with one's back toward the audience is a lyric poem; and novels are to be read in silence." ([French] Davide? Fontaine's Poetics - A General Theory of Literary Forms, translated by Chen Jing, Tianjin People's Publishing House 2003 edition page 126)

Frye's tetrad is not the same as the popular tetrad in China in terms of the basis of the argument and the results of the categorization.

Traditional poetry is a literary work with rhyme. It expresses some kind of strong emotion through poetic imagination and lyricism. Poetry is the oldest form of literature, and China is one of the most developed countries in the world in terms of poetry. Since the earliest collection of Chinese poetry, the Classic of Poetry, and the earliest long lyric poem, Li Sao. Since the Lefu of the Han Dynasty, the metered poems of the Tang and Song dynasties, and the rise of the lyric in the late Tang Dynasty, the Yuan dynasty compositions, and the new poems since the May 4th Movement, there has been a wealth of poetry in China. The folk ballads of all generations. This constitutes an unrivaled tradition of Chinese poetry. In contrast, narrative poetry in the West was developed later and combined with drama to achieve a great deal. For example, Homer's epics, Dante's Divine Comedy, and Shakespeare's plays.

Prose is a form of literature without strict limits of rhyme or length. It is the opposite of rhyme. Chinese prose developed from the prose of the pre-Qin zhuzi, and there are famous prose masterpieces. Among them, the historical prose and fugue style as well as the application of the style of zaozhiwenxue have had a profound impact on future generations. Since ancient times, China has been the most advanced country in the world in terms of prose.

Theater is another ancient form of literature. It expresses the author's thoughts and feelings mainly through dialogues between different characters. Drama can be used for performances on the stage and can also be read.

Fiction is a comprehensive form of literature with a virtual world. Traditionally, it is dominated by prose. Zhuangzi: decorated novels to dry the magistrate. China's modern sense of the novel, from the pre-Qin prose in the fable goblet, after the end of the Han and the six dynasties of the notes, to the Tang Legends of the Song Dynasty to the proposed book and mature, and then passed to the Ming and Qing dynasties to the four great wonders of the book as a representative of the long story and to the Liaozhai Zhiyi as a representative of the short story. The novel in the West is called fiction and is known as a prose epic. The novel is upwardly connected to myths and legends as a later form of literature. Because of its huge capacity, y and comprehensively reflecting the reality and people's thoughts, it has become one of the mainstream forms of literature after modern times.