《夕陽》敘事技巧分析

Analysis of Narrative Tactic in That Evening Sun

摘 要：威廉·福克納是20世紀美國著名現實主義作家。其短篇小說《夕陽》在布局、謀篇上堪稱現代主義短篇小說的典范之作。《夕陽》的主題是揭示種族歧視。本文將從小說敘事結構與主題的統一方面分析作者的敘事策略。這一敘事策略的運用使作品的內容和形式得到了完美的統一，作品也因此獲得了獨特的藝術魅力。

關鍵詞：敘事結構、主題、統一

Ⅰ.Introduction

William Faulkner has made great contribution to the development of modern novels“by constantly experimenting with various kinds of forms and tactics in novels and daringly broadening the scope of representation of modern life”. His innovative experiment enhances the expressiveness of various narrative tactics; more truly represents the reality and proves more deeply into the inner world and the soul of characters thus deepening the theme of the work.

Ⅱ.Narrative Form and Motif

“Faulkner is the genius in the aspect of form. He explores every possibility of form unceasingly.” Because the length of the story is limited， in That Evening Sun， Faulkner utilizes the tactic of echo to specialize the short story.

2.1 Begins with Quentin’s Narration

In That Evening Sun， the narrator of the beginning is adult Quentin who is the oldest child in Compson. He begins the story by describing a well-developing Jefferson. It is full of appreciation， however， Quentin is still immersing in nostalgic feeling. As the descendant of the rich white family， Quentin is affected deeply by the racial discrimination so that he cannot pick out the evil behind the so-called harmonious society.

2.2 Ends with Quentin’s Question

That Evening Sun ends with a question by Quetnin， “who will do our washing now， father?” He is rather more anxious about his own personal welfare， worrying over such a trivial problem as who will wash the family’s clothes while Nancy is under her utmost fear. Quentin’s question represents the astonishing indifferences of the whites toward the black’s sufferings.

Ⅲ. Conclusion

Therefore， through Quentin’s question， Faulkner not only unifies the first and the last section in the story， but also reinforces the theme of black people’s sufferings and the white man’s indifferences toward them. In this way， Faulkner not only colors the short story but also riches the theme of the story.

Bibolioragphy:

[1] Qin Xiaomeng. Contemporary American Literature with Collateral Readings. Shanghai: Shanghai Translation Publishing House.，1986

[2] 管建明.“福克納的敘事藝術中的時間和空間形式”.《外語教學》.2003（7）

[3] 康拉德· 艾肯.“論福克納的小說形式”.《福克納評論集》.