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Characteristics of the novel Ma Truong Nguyen - 1


THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION


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VU NGOC KIM


Characteristics of the novel Ma Truong Nguyen - 1

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NOVEL DEMON TRUONG NGUYEN


Major: Vietnamese Literature Code: 60220121


MASTER'S THESIS IN LINGUISTIC SCIENCE


Scientific supervisor: Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Thuy Nguyen


Thai Nguyen, 2013



COMMITMENT

I hereby declare that this is my own research work. The contents stated in this thesis are true and have never been published in any other work.


Thai Nguyen, April 2013

THESIS AUTHOR


Vu Ngoc Kim


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With deep respect and gratitude, I would like to sincerely thank Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Thuy Nguyen , who has wholeheartedly guided and helped me throughout the process of writing my thesis.

I would like to sincerely thank the teachers of the Faculty of Literature, the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, and the staff of the Department of Science Management of the University of Education - Thai Nguyen University for creating favorable conditions for me during my study and research at the school.

I would like to sincerely thank writer Ma Truong Nguyen for creating conditions to help me complete this thesis.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Board of Directors of Loc Binh High School, colleagues, friends, family and relatives who have encouraged, cared, shared and created all conditions to help me complete the course well.

Thai Nguyen, April 2013

THESIS AUTHOR


Vu Ngoc Kim


INDEX

Page

Commitment i

Thanks ii

Table of Contents iii

Introduction 1

1. Reasons for choosing topic 1

2. Problem History 2

3. Research object and scope 6

4. Research task 7

5. Research methods 7

6. Thesis layout 7

Contents 8

Chapter 1 : Prose of modern Vietnamese ethnic minorities and Ma Truong Nguyen's novels 8

1.1. Overview of modern Vietnamese ethnic minority prose 8

1.1.1. The development of ethnic minority prose writing force 8

1.1.2. Development in terms of themes and topics of ethnic minority prose..11

1.1.3. Plot, character, language characteristics of ethnic minority prose 15

1.1.3.1. Plot characteristics 15

1.1.3.2. Character characteristics 17

1.1.3.3. Language features 20

1.2. Writer Ma Truong Nguyen - life, personality and creative career 22

1.2.1. Some features of the life and personality of writer Ma Truong Nguyen 22

1.2.2. Novels in the writing career of writer Ma Truong Nguyen 23

Chapter 2 : Main inspirations in Ma Truong Nguyen's novels...28 2.1. Some related concepts 28

2.1.1. Concept of novel 28

2.1.2. The concept of main inspiration 29

2.2. Main inspiration in Ma Truong Nguyen's novels 30

2.2.1. Inspiration about the reality of life and culture in the mountains 30

2.2.1.1. The old life was poor and full of pain 30

2.2.1.2. The struggle to build a new life, eliminate backward lifestyles 32

2.2.1.3. Mountain culture with customs, practices, and festivals imbued with national identity 36

2.2.2. Humanitarian inspiration towards mountain people 43

2.2.2.1. Sympathy for the tragic fates of mountain people 43

2.2.2.2. Praising the good qualities of mountain people 48

2.2.2.3. Criticizing the bad and evil things in life 53

2.2.2.4. Respecting the aspirations for freedom in the love of mountain people 56

2.2.3. Lyrical inspiration about mountain nature 59

Chapter 3 : Some artistic aspects in Ma Truong Nguyen's novels...64

3.1. Plot and non-plot elements 64

3.1.1. Story 64

3.1.2. Extra-plot elements 70

3.2. The art of character building 74

3.2.1. Concept of literary character 74

3.2.2. The art of character building in Ma Truong Nguyen's novels...75 3.2.2.1. Portraying characters through appearance 76

3.2.2.2. Portraying characters through inner life 79

3.2.2.3. Portraying characters through challenging situations 83

3.3. The art of language 87

3.3.1. Using a system of words associated with the lives of ethnic minorities in mountainous areas 88

3.3.2. Short, simple sentences, expressing the thinking of mountain people 91

3.3.3. The technique of comparison and metaphor rich in imagery 93

Conclusion 98

References 101

original

iv

Digitized by Learning Resource Center - Thai Nguyen University http://www.lrc-tnu.edu.vn


INTRODUCTION


1. Reason for choosing the topic

1.1. Ethnic minority literature is an important part of Vietnamese literature. Along with Kinh literature, " Vietnamese ethnic minority literature has made a worthy contribution to the revolutionary cause, the resistance war against France, against the US and the construction of socialism and has become an indispensable part of Vietnamese socialist literature" [32]. After more than half a century of formation and development, Vietnamese ethnic minority literature has truly become a close, unique, distinctive part and has made great contributions to creating the general appearance of national literature. Many ethnic minority literary works have won high awards and have been received with attention and acceptance by public opinion.

1.2. Ma Truong Nguyen is an ethnic minority writer. Working hard “ in the field of words ”, writing like “ a silkworm repaying the mulberry tree ” for his people, homeland and country, up to now he has published 20 books (8 novels, 6 poetry collections, 1 epic poem, 1 children's story, 1 autobiography, 1 memoir, 2 essays and criticisms). The works of Tay ethnic writer Ma Truong Nguyen are imbued with the breath of life and people of the mountains with artistic elements imbued with national identity. Perhaps that is also the reason why he has received many literary awards.

In the field of novels, Ma Truong Nguyen has achieved quite a lot of success. He received the award of the National Committee of the Vietnam Literature and Arts Associations for the novel Long Human Roots , the B prize of the 5-year Literature and Arts Award (1992-1997) of Thai Nguyen province for the novel Smoke Arrow , the B prize of the 5-year Literature and Arts Award (1997-2002) of Thai Nguyen province for the novel The Season of Roses . These achievements partly show the depth and breadth of the writer's creativity in the field of novels. However, up to now, there has not been any systematic and comprehensive research on the novel genre in Ma Truong Nguyen's writing career. Therefore, research on the characteristics of Ma Truong Nguyen's novels is a necessary task.


1.3. Showing concern for ethnic minority culture and literature, on October 20, 2011, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Directive No. 194/CT-BVHTTDL on organizing the implementation of the project "Preserving and developing the culture of ethnic minorities in Vietnam until 2020". The content of the Directive clearly states a task that needs to be done in the period of 2016 - 2020: "Introducing and promoting literary and artistic works and typical cultural heritages of ethnic minorities" .

With a love for ethnic minority literature, with the desire to introduce and promote literary works and ethnic minority writers of which Ma Truong Nguyen is a typical representative, we chose to research the topic "Characteristics of Ma Truong Nguyen's novels" .

2. Problem history

Ethnic minority literature is an indispensable part of national literature, but up to now, researchers and critics have not paid due attention to this part of literature. It is easy to see that the field of ethnic minority literature research still lacks both breadth and depth, and there are still many gaps. In this general situation, it is understandable that the novels of writer Ma Truong Nguyen have not really attracted much attention. Up to now, there have not been many research documents on his novels. We can mention a number of articles and research works on Ma Truong Nguyen's novels published in books, newspapers, literary conference proceedings, university graduation theses, scientific research topics by authors Lam Tien, Tran Thi Nuong, Bui Nhu Lan, Tran Van Tac, Vu Dinh Toan, Tran Thi Hanh, Nguyen Thi Lan... In those research documents, the authors have conducted general research and evaluations on Ma Truong Nguyen's novels in terms of both content and art.

In terms of content:

The inspiration about people, nature, cultural life of the mountains and love in the content of Ma Truong Nguyen's novels has been mentioned by a number of authors. Regarding the issue of status and qualities of mountain people in Ma Truong Nguyen's novels, author Tran Thi Nuong wrote: "We meet in the works


His works reflect generations of people from the mountainous regions who are both honest, diligent, and deeply affectionate" and "they are not satisfied with poverty and backwardness, eager to learn, determined to overcome circumstances and fate to sow the seeds of dreams for a beautiful life" [27]. Author Lam Tien recognized in the works of writer Ma Truong Nguyen a source of inspiration "about the lives and fates of people with a strong desire for love and happiness. In which, the love of couples stands out" [34, p.3]. And, according to the researcher, the people in Ma Truong Nguyen's novels "are not only beautiful in love but also very beautiful in person, especially for female characters, not only beautiful in form but also have strong vitality in their inner life" [34, p.4].

The nature and cultural life of the mountainous region are also mentioned by author Lam Tien in his essay Ma Truong Nguyen - writer, poet of love in the land of clouds. In the novel Ma Truong Nguyen, the pictures of the mountainous nature " appear beautifully, imbued with human love " [34, p.4]. And especially " the festivals, weddings, the closing ceremony, the moon festival, the rice pounding festival, the singing sessions, the market days... all take place very beautifully, very poetically " [34, p.4], " the customs, practices, festivals, weddings, fairy tales, legends... blend in the written pages to add vitality, enrich and deepen the soul and character of the mountainous people " [34, p.5]. According to author Lam Tien, the pages about people, nature, and mountain culture in Ma Truong Nguyen's novels originate from "a deep love for people, life, and mountain nature" [34, p.3].

Author Vu Dinh Toan also affirmed that the content of Ma Truong Nguyen's novels "is not beyond two main inspirations: love between couples and the beauty of the culture of the ethnic minorities in the mountains - mainly through the Tay culture - the ethnic group from which he comes. These two sources of inspiration are always present, intertwined, and blended together in each story, relying on each other to sublimate and shine" [37, p.37].

Humanistic inspiration is also an aspect in the content of the novel Ma Truong Nguyen that researchers are interested in. Author Tran Van Tac affirmed

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