Abstract
Different from most traditional Chinese full-length novels, Dream of the Red Chamber紅樓夢written by Cao Xueqin 曹雪芹 (1710?—1765?) begins its narrative by declaring that the whole story in its entirety has been finished and completed. This essay approach this narrative design from a different perspective, namely, the temporal structure and explore how the emplotments with a predestined ending point right at the beginning of the novel are constructed and their effects on the reader's experience. To better illustrate this mechanism, I will first examine the indication of a known ending in the framework of narrative theory and then look into the twofold layers that the novel adopts in its first chapter to persuade its readers that the whole story is built on a recollection and remembrance. In doing so, I explore how the construction of a known ending beforehand affects the reading experience at the cognitive and affective levels.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
