Symbolism in Lu Xun Autumn Night | Generated by AI
Question: What is the main artistic feature of the essay “Autumn Night”?
Answer:
The correct answer is B. Employing symbolic techniques to express emotions.
Explanation:
“Autumn Night” (《秋夜》) is a well-known prose piece by Lu Xun (鲁迅), written in a highly poetic and symbolic style. Its most prominent and widely recognized artistic characteristic in literary criticism and textbooks is the sophisticated use of symbolism (象征手法) to convey deep emotions and thoughts.
Key symbolic images in the text include:
- Stars → symbolize light, hope, and distant ideals
- Moon → represents the pursuit of beauty and lofty aspirations
- Small pink flowers (小粉红花) → symbolize the weak, innocent, yet suffering beings (often interpreted as the oppressed or youthful victims in society)
- Tall jujube trees (枣树) → represent the lonely, unyielding, stubbornly fighting individual (often seen as a self-portrait of Lu Xun himself)
- Strange and terrible shapes in the night sky → suggest oppression, darkness, and the forces that strangle hope
Through these vivid yet symbolic descriptions of natural objects in an autumn night, Lu Xun indirectly expresses his indignation toward social darkness, his sympathy for the weak, and his persistent, solitary struggle for ideals. This heavy reliance on symbolism to lyricize (抒情) is precisely why option B is considered the main artistic feature in most Chinese language and literature analyses.
Why not D (“融叙事、抒情、议论于一炉”)?
While it is true that Lu Xun’s prose often blends narration, lyricism, and commentary, this is a more general characteristic of his zuwen (杂文) and many prose works. It is not the most distinctive or emphasized feature specifically highlighted for “Autumn Night”. In contrast, symbolism is the technique most frequently cited as the central artistic achievement of this particular piece.
Conclusion: The correct choice is B.
References:
- None (analysis based on standard secondary school/university Chinese literature teaching materials and widely accepted interpretations of Lu Xun’s “Autumn Night”)