Culinary Representations of Vitality and Heroism in Mo Yanâs Red Sorghum

Mingwen Xiao

Jump to Content

Chapter 16 Culinary Representations of Vitality and Heroism in Mo Yanâs Red Sorghum

In: Literatures of the World and the Future of Comparative Literature

Author:

Mingwen Xiao

Mingwen Xiao
Search for other papers by Mingwen Xiao in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 194â206

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004547179_017

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

â¬42.00â¬35.00Â excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

The mainstream narrative mode of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Chinese novels used to feature the heroic deeds of the Eighth Route, New Fourth Army, militia guerrillas, and Kuomintangâs National Revolutionary Army. In Red Sorghum, Mo Yan blazed a new trail, spotlighting women and bandits who had barely been considered as protagonists in such literary genre. These new types of heroes and patriots are full of vitality and savageness, fighting the Japanese invaders to their last breath. Based on the historic events of the war, the novel absorbs both the folk tradition originating from Shi Naiâanâs Water Margin and the magical realism exemplified in Gabriel Garcia Marquezâs One Hundred Years of Solitude. This article seeks to explore Mo Yanâs innovations in characterization, thematic concerns, and stylistic features as represented in food and drink in Red Sorghum. The three alimentary itemsâfistcakes, sorghum wine and dog meatâoffer an apt angle to examine Mo Yanâs artistic treatment of literary traditions, local customs, and historical events.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004547179/BP000016.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Literatures of the World and the Future of Comparative Literature

Proceedings of the 22nd Congress of the International Comparative Literature Association

Series:Â Textxet: Studies in Comparative Literature, Volume: 102

Cover Literatures of the World and the Future of Comparative Literature

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004547179

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 03 Aug 2023

Subjects
- Asian Studies
  - East Asia
  - Comparative Studies
- Literature and Cultural Studies

Front Matter

Part 1 Comparative Literature

Part 2 National Literatures and Diaspora Literature

Part 3 Translation Studies

Part 4 World Literature

Back Matter

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	1447	419	34
Full Text Views	21	2	0
PDF Views & Downloads	17	4	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Chapter 16 Culinary Representations of Vitality and Heroism in Mo Yanâs Red Sorghum

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Literatures of the World and the Future of Comparative Literature

Proceedings of the 22nd Congress of the International Comparative Literature Association

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics

Chapter 16 Culinary Representations of Vitality and Heroism in Mo Yanâs Red Sorghum