山东滨州学院外语系

Chapter 3 Analysis of a Chapter 3 Analysis of a Sample B. A. ThesisSample B. A. Thesis

Chapter 3 Analysis of a Chapter 3 Analysis of a Sample B. A. ThesisSample B. A. Thesis

The sample thesis:The sample thesis: Title: The Stream-of-Consciousness TeTitle: The Stream-of-Consciousness Te

chnique in WangMeng’s The Butterflychnique in WangMeng’s The Butterfly Subtitle:Subtitle:—as seen through a compariso—as seen through a compariso

n with Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthon with Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouseuse

OutlineOutline Thesis sentence:Thesis sentence: By using the stream-of-consciousness techniBy using the stream-of-consciousness techni

que, Wang Meng is enriching the Chinese wque, Wang Meng is enriching the Chinese way of novel writing rather than flouting it.ay of novel writing rather than flouting it.

I.I. There has been a heated debate on Wang There has been a heated debate on Wang Meng’s literary techniques, the point at issuMeng’s literary techniques, the point at issue being whether the author is flouting or enre being whether the author is flouting or enriching the Chinese way of novel writing by uiching the Chinese way of novel writing by using thesing the

stream-of-consciousness technique.stream-of-consciousness technique. II.II. The stream-of-consciousness The stream-of-consciousness

technique is a literary technique technique is a literary technique widely used in twentieth century widely used in twentieth century fiction.fiction.

A. The stream-of-consciousness A. The stream-of-consciousness technique attempts to represent technique attempts to represent the thoughts of a character as they the thoughts of a character as they flow through his or herflow through his or her

mind without regard to logical argument or mind without regard to logical argument or narrative sequence.narrative sequence.

B. Thoretical influences upon this technique B. Thoretical influences upon this technique mainly come from three men: William Jamemainly come from three men: William James, Sigmund Freud, and Henri Bergson.s, Sigmund Freud, and Henri Bergson.

C. The stream-of-consciousness technique cC. The stream-of-consciousness technique came into being through a gradual process. ame into being through a gradual process.

III.III. As writers using the stream-of-consciou As writers using the stream-of-consciousness technique, Wang Meng and Virginia sness technique, Wang Meng and Virginia Woolf share certain characteristics of form Woolf share certain characteristics of form while differ in their ways of looking at the inwhile differ in their ways of looking at the inner reality and developing a plot.ner reality and developing a plot.

A. Similarities between Wang Meng and VirA. Similarities between Wang Meng and Virginia Woolf can be seen in three respects:ginia Woolf can be seen in three respects:

subject matter, disappearance of the subject matter, disappearance of the author, and treatment of time.author, and treatment of time.

B. Differences between the two authorB. Differences between the two authors are obvious.s are obvious.

1.1. While Virginia Woolf holds that the i While Virginia Woolf holds that the inner reality is more important, Wang nner reality is more important, Wang Meng places more stress on the outer Meng places more stress on the outer world.world.

2.2. Wang Meng tells a detailed and coherent Wang Meng tells a detailed and coherent story in story in The ButterflyThe Butterfly, whereas Virginia Wo, whereas Virginia Woolf provides no plot in olf provides no plot in To the LighthouseTo the Lighthouse..

IV.IV. Wang Meng is NOT flouting the Chines Wang Meng is NOT flouting the Chinese way of novel writing; on the contrary, he ie way of novel writing; on the contrary, he is enriching it by borrowing the western stres enriching it by borrowing the western stream-of-consciousness technique while puttinam-of-consciousness technique while putting stress ont the outer world and developing g stress ont the outer world and developing a complete plot.a complete plot.

Analysis of the Sample ThesisAnalysis of the Sample Thesis

The topic of the paper is relevant, well-The topic of the paper is relevant, well-chosen, and appropriately restricted. A chosen, and appropriately restricted. A research paper studying the influence research paper studying the influence of a western literary technique upon a of a western literary technique upon a major contemporary Chinese writer major contemporary Chinese writer would work adequately for a thesis as would work adequately for a thesis as required of a Chinese college graduate required of a Chinese college graduate in English.in English.

1.1. The TopicThe Topic

The significance of the paper is further enThe significance of the paper is further enhanced by the particular writer chosen for hanced by the particular writer chosen for the study, since Wang MENG IS IN FACthe study, since Wang MENG IS IN FACT THE PIONEER IN CONTEMPORART THE PIONEER IN CONTEMPORARY Chinese literary history who made the fiY Chinese literary history who made the first attempt in this direction and htus evokrst attempt in this direction and htus evoked a nation-wide discussion concerning thed a nation-wide discussion concerning the guiding principles for the development oe guiding principles for the development of contemporary Chinese literature.f contemporary Chinese literature.

As the title of the paper clearly indicateAs the title of the paper clearly indicates its major concern, the subtitle helps ts its major concern, the subtitle helps to define the method and scope of the sto define the method and scope of the study, restrictiing the paper to a manageudy, restrictiing the paper to a manageable scale. able scale.

2. The Thesis Statement2. The Thesis Statement

The thesis statement of The thesis statement of the paper reveals the the paper reveals the

author’s “position” in the debate of Wang Menauthor’s “position” in the debate of Wang Meng’s employment of the stream-of-consciousness g’s employment of the stream-of-consciousness technique. It expresses the central idea which ctechnique. It expresses the central idea which controls the direction of the entire discussion.ontrols the direction of the entire discussion.

It is to be noticed, however, that the thesis stateIt is to be noticed, however, that the thesis statement presented in the outline is not explicitlyment presented in the outline is not explicitly

stated in the introduction of the paper. stated in the introduction of the paper.

The page begins with a brief introduction to The page begins with a brief introduction to Wang Meng as a major contemporary ChinWang Meng as a major contemporary Chinese writer and the controversy around his rese writer and the controversy around his recent daring literary attempt. These introduecent daring literary attempt. These introductory remarks lead the reader transitional pctory remarks lead the reader transitional paragraphs. However, they do not seem to saaragraphs. However, they do not seem to satisfy the tisfy the

3. The Introduction3. The Introduction

expectation of an experienced reader of expectation of an experienced reader of research papers in two respects.research papers in two respects.

First, although the transitional summary is First, although the transitional summary is effective in extracting major points from the effective in extracting major points from the detailed comparison, the second paragraph detailed comparison, the second paragraph does not work so well in preparing the does not work so well in preparing the reader for the conclusion as the first reader for the conclusion as the first paragraph does.paragraph does.

Having summed up the similarities betHaving summed up the similarities between Wang Meng and Woolf in their uween Wang Meng and Woolf in their use of the technique, the first paragraph se of the technique, the first paragraph ends appropriately with a generalizatioends appropriately with a generalization regarding the advantages it has given n regarding the advantages it has given to Wang Meng’s writng. But the seconto Wang Meng’s writng. But the second paragraph simply stays at the differed paragraph simply stays at the differences, with no attempt to make a point onces, with no attempt to make a point out of them.ut of them.

Thus, the reader is left with a question concThus, the reader is left with a question concerning Wang Meng’s emphasis on the outer erning Wang Meng’s emphasis on the outer world and a complete plot in relation to his world and a complete plot in relation to his contribution to the Chinese way of novel wricontribution to the Chinese way of novel writing.ting.

Second, the author of the thesis does not Second, the author of the thesis does not seem to realize that though the conclusion of seem to realize that though the conclusion of a research paper may begin by re-stating a research paper may begin by re-stating the central idea, it is generally expected to the central idea, it is generally expected to go beyond that, bringing the reader to a go beyond that, bringing the reader to a broader perspective. He assumes the broader perspective. He assumes the central idea to be the conclusion perhaps on central idea to be the conclusion perhaps on the belief that it is not really a “re-the belief that it is not really a “re-statement.”statement.”

Obviously, he is led to this Obviously, he is led to this misunderstanding by his suspense treatment misunderstanding by his suspense treatment of the central idea in the introduction. The of the central idea in the introduction. The weakness of the conclusion can be seen in weakness of the conclusion can be seen in the author’s reliance on the use of capital the author’s reliance on the use of capital letters for a concluding effect.letters for a concluding effect.

The following revision attempts at the correThe following revision attempts at the correction of these two fallacies:ction of these two fallacies:

Having compared Wang Meng’s Having compared Wang Meng’s The ButterfThe Butterf

ly ly with Virginia Woolf’s with Virginia Woolf’s To the LighthouseTo the Lighthouse, , we are able to see that Wang Meng does borwe are able to see that Wang Meng does borrow tecniques from certain western writers. row tecniques from certain western writers. His subject matter is, in many ways,His subject matter is, in many ways,

similar to that of Virginia Woolf. Also, similar to that of Virginia Woolf. Also, like Virginia Woolf, he uses interior like Virginia Woolf, he uses interior monologues and soliloquies with the monologues and soliloquies with the conception of the interior time. And conception of the interior time. And with this subject matter, the devices of with this subject matter, the devices of interior monologue and soliloquy, and interior monologue and soliloquy, and the notion of duration, he is able to the notion of duration, he is able to portray the mental wounds of portray the mental wounds of duration, he is able to portrayduration, he is able to portray

the mental wounds of the people cause by tthe mental wounds of the people cause by the “cultural revolution” with great truthfulhe “cultural revolution” with great truthfulness, minuteness, and vividness.ness, minuteness, and vividness.

But Wang Meng does not confine himself to But Wang Meng does not confine himself to the western stream-of-consciousness techniqthe western stream-of-consciousness technique. The inner reality is the most important tue. The inner reality is the most important thing in Virginia Woolf’s work, whereas Wahing in Virginia Woolf’s work, whereas Wang Mengng Meng

places more stress on the outer world; places more stress on the outer world; in Virginia Woolf’ work there is no ploin Virginia Woolf’ work there is no plot to speak of, whereas in Wang Meng’s t to speak of, whereas in Wang Meng’s work the story is clearly told. These difwork the story is clearly told. These differences cannot be disregarded in viewiferences cannot be disregarded in viewing the controversy about Wang Meng’ng the controversy about Wang Meng’s current literary experiments, because s current literary experiments, because a literary work with an emphasis solely a literary work with an emphasis solely on the inner world and without a recogon the inner world and without a recognizable nizable

Plot would go too far from the Chinese Plot would go too far from the Chinese literary tradition, and consequently, be literary tradition, and consequently, be rejected by the Chinese reading public.rejected by the Chinese reading public.

With With The ButterflyThe Butterfly and other experime and other experimental works, Wang Meng is indeed contrntal works, Wang Meng is indeed contributing to the Chinese way of novel wriibuting to the Chinese way of novel writing in the sense of successfully adaptinting in the sense of successfully adapting a western literary techniqueg a western literary technique

to the service of reflecting a Chinese literary to the service of reflecting a Chinese literary eontext. But on a deeper level, his successful eontext. But on a deeper level, his successful experiments have a much greater significanexperiments have a much greater significance. With the downfall of the “gang of four,” ce. With the downfall of the “gang of four,” China is redoubling her efforts in making uChina is redoubling her efforts in making up for the losses caused by the “cultural revolp for the losses caused by the “cultural revolution.” Butution.” But

Because of its ideological touchiness, literatBecause of its ideological touchiness, literature ure

still remains, to a great extent, a tabstill remains, to a great extent, a taboo for the modernization drive. This oo for the modernization drive. This will inevitably hinder China’s culturwill inevitably hinder China’s cultural development. In fact, Wang Menal development. In fact, Wang Meng’s pioneering attempt voices the long’s pioneering attempt voices the long-suffocated desire of Chinese writeg-suffocated desire of Chinese writers to develop the Chinese literary trrs to develop the Chinese literary tradition, and marks the beginning of adition, and marks the beginning of a new era in contemporary Chinese a new era in contemporary Chinese literature. literature.

山东滨州学院外语系