On Imposed Interpretation and Chinese Construction of Literary Theory

Abstract

AbstractNo doubt twentieth-century Western literary theory has achieved remarkable results and historical advances. But the so-called imposed interpretation is one of its fundamental shortcomings. Imposed interpretation here refers to the practices that deviate from the text and dispel its literary significations. It is characterized by interpreting literary texts with a prepositioned mode of subjective intention in an attempt to reach a conclusion conforming to the critic’s intentions and theoretical doctrines taken off-field and from the critic’s own preconditioned logical cognition. Yet constructing Chinese literary theoretical discourse should discriminate among and examine various contemporary Western literary theories, actively draw on its useful achievements and experiences, and return to Chinese literary practice in an overall way. It is also necessary to adhere to the orientation of nationalization and realize the dialectical unity of external research and internal research.