MYTHICAL THINKING AND RATIONAL SPIRIT - AN INTERPRETATION OF LU XUN’S “OLD TALES RETOLD”

Abstract

Introduction. The great creativity of the myth itself provides a specific way for literature to develop plots and express themes. As a special way of thinking, mythical thinking has become an important component of the writer's creative psychology, and the narrative language of myths is metaphorical and vivid. This article studies the mythical thinking and rational spirit reflected the works of the modern writers who use ancient myths in their writing. Special attention should be paid to Lu Xun's “Old Tales Retold”, a unique collection of novels. It helps to explore why Lu Xun has a special liking for ancient myths, and how he gave myths new content, form, meaning and function. Material and methods. Based on the existing research results, this article attempts to use comparative research, narratology, and diachronic research methods, combined with the relevant theories of well-known literary theorists, literary critics, and mythologists to explore the usage of ancient myths in the “Old Tales Retold”. The works undergo in-depth analysis and detailed description. Results and discussions