Change and constancy： Reflections on the Essential Characteristics of Literature in the Forming Mechanism of Western Literary Classics

【Abstract】The formation of ancient and modern Chinese and foreign literary classics has its constant aesthetic pursuit of literary language， discussion of human nature and promotion of truth， goodness and beauty. However， different cultural groups have developed and changed their understanding and understanding of the artistic principles and connotations of truth， goodness and beauty at different stages of historical development.

【Keywords】Literary classics； Formation mechanism； Literature； Essential characteristics

【作者簡介】郭怡辰，吉林省四平市實驗中學高三。

Introduction

With the rapid economic development in our time， the function and value of literature are declining. Our era is one in which literary text-based doctrine and reading-based doctrine encounter multimedia informatization. The first thing we should think about when we discuss the formation mechanism of literary classics is what classical literature is and its essential characteristics. Secondly， the question to be considered is which factors play a dominant role in the classical mechanism of literary works.

First， the classic literature has the eternal value pursuit

Literature is an art with language as its medium， and poetry is the essence of language. A classic literary work is first and foremost a treasure house of language and art， and there is no other classic literary work at all times and in all countries. Different from the casual expression of everyday spoken language， the classic sentences in literary language are carefully refined， flashing poetic light and sending out unique charm.

Literature is a kind of human science， and the exploration and interpretation of human nature is the eternal theme of the literature of all nationalities in the world from ancient to present. Since ancient times， literature has never stopped exploring human nature and promoting truth， goodness and beauty. The exploration and promotion of human nature and truth， goodness and beauty has become the eternal theme of literature. The history of literature development is also the history of deepening the understanding of human nature and truth， goodness and beauty.

Second， the concrete forms and contents of classical literature are changed and varied

Literature and art are the art of pursuing truth， beauty and beauty. The relationship between truth， beauty and beauty is the meta-problem of traditional aesthetics. The direction of literary criticism and aesthetics is closely related to the basic problems of aesthetics. The external expression of literary works changes with the development of social life and social needs. The content of literary works also changes with the development of social life and social needs. Literary creation， including the creation of classical literature， originates from social life and reflects social life. As far as authors are concerned， each author lives in a specific historical period and a specific social and cultural atmosphere. The evolution and enrichment of the external forms of literary works cannot be separated from the development and change of social history.

Third， the social function of classical literature is realistic and positive

Roughly speaking， the function of literature and art has the function of art education at the social level and aesthetic entertainment at the artistic level. The function of art education at the social level includes propaganda and education in political thought， ethics and religious belief. The extreme aesthetic of literature and art itself and the extreme utilitarian of literature and art will not produce classic literary works. The works of extreme aesthetic entertainment and the self-entertainment literary works of the authors personal lyrical propaganda lack due social value and significance， and the literary works of extreme enlightenment function lack self-discipline and artistic value of literature and art.

Conclusion： In the current era of hypermedia and consumer culture， truth， goodness and beauty are facing separation from each other， literary works are facing the impact of fast and simplified hypermedia and the weakening of the social function of consumer culture-oriented literature， and literary workers need to constantly think and explore the way of literatures survival and canonization.

References：

[1]Guo Dayong.Construction and controversy of literary classics[J]. Quest，2011（5）.

[2]Zhang Deming.Generation pedigree and dissemination mechanism of literary classics[J].Journal of Zhejiang University，2012（6）.