李伯元《文明小史》敘事結構探析

Analysis of the Narrative Structure in Li Boyuan's "A Brief History of Enlightenment" ("Wen Ming Xiao Shi")

10.7049/JCYU.201207.0079

陳韻文(Yun-Wen Chen)

文明小史 ； 李伯元 ； 故事組 ； 敘事結構 ； 晚清譴責小說 ； A Brief History of Enlightenment (Wen Ming Xiao Shi) ； Clusters of stories ； Condemnation novels in the late Qing Dynasty ； Li Boyuan ； Narrative structure

清雲學報

32卷3期（2012 / 07 / 01）

79 - 99

繁體中文

李伯元的《文明小史》以反映晚清維新時期的時代風貌為特點，當集錦式的故事組結構要涵納廣泛的社會圖景，在看來散亂無章的情節中，表層與深層結構的對應關係是本文討論的重點。表層結構共有九個故事組與25組事綱，故事組的連結形式，有並連與串連兩種，後者比例較高使結構不會太過鬆散；事綱的組織方式，透過鏈接與鑲嵌使情節向主題集中。將故事組的意蘊指涉綜合視之，發現深層結構都與「新／舊」元素有關；其衝突層次，有形上與形下兩層面，前者如思想、價值觀的對立，後者如政治、教育、經濟等不同場域的衝突。因此，在看似鬆散的表層結構中，對應著以文明為主題，以新舊的對立衝突為血肉的深層結構，架構起這部反映晚清變革風貌的譴責小說。

Reflecting culture and trends specific to the late Qing reform era, ”A Brief History of Enlightenment” (”Wen Ming Xiao Shi”) by Li Boyuan is characterized by a kaleidoscopic presentation of clusters of stories intended to encompass extensive social images. The present thesis specifically explores the intricate correspondence between the surface structure and the deep structure that underlies the seemingly disordered assemblage of stories.The surface structure consists of nine clusters of stories and twenty-five sequences. The clusters of stories are presented either in parallel or in series, with a larger proportion told in series to tighten the narrative structure. The organization of the sequences features techniques of linking and embedding that center the plot around the main theme. A comprehensive examination of significances of and references in the clusters of stories further suggests that the underlying structure is related to the conflicting elements of ”new” and ”old.” Conflicts manifested in the deep structure involve two layers, the metaphysical, such as opposition of ideas and of values, and the physical, such as confrontation in realms of politics, education, and economics. With the ostensibly loose, disorganized surface structure corresponding to the underlying deep structure that employs civilization as its main theme and incorporates the antagonism between new and old as its flesh and blood, the over-arching framework of this novel of denunciation portraying the late Qing reform era is thus constructed.