Outlaws of the Marsh
《水浒传》
Outlaws of the Marsh is the first novel in the history of Chinese literature that depicts the whole developmental process of peasant uprisings. It is thought to be a representative work of the heroic legendary novels of the Ming any Qing dynasties. The novel is based on the raw materials taken by its authors from historical chronicles and folk legends. Its authorship，as it is generally believed goes to Shi Naian and Luo Guanzhong. The novel relates the stories about the Lian gshan uprising led by Song Jiang during which the rebellious heroes executed justice on behalf of the Heavens by killing the rich and relieving the poor. It reflects extensively the dark reality of the feudal society and exposes the decadence and evil of the ruling class ;it also reveals the anguish of the masses and illuminates the inevitability of peasant uprisings and wars. By correlating and incorporating its plot :into an organic whole，the book builds up a magnificent artistic structure which is intact, rigorous，diverse and flexible .The first 71 chapters narrate，via a single-chained structuring，relatively self-contained short stories and biographies of the heroes while the subsequent chapters relate，via a parallel structuring，the tales of the tragic ending of Liang shan insurrectionary army. Besides，it employs flexibly the technique of combining unification with separation，tension with relaxation，necessary details with appropriate omissions，and direct narration with interposed narration. Outlaws of the Marsh breaks the stereotyped pattern of characterization by focusing on the depiction of the individuality of its characters which changes with the changing circumstances. Thus，it creates a large number of preeminent and distinctive heroic images. The diction of the book is lucid and lively，plain and graceful with a rich local color. The heroic legendary genre of fiction created by the writers of Outlaws of the Marsh has exercised a great influence on the development of fiction writing of the same kind. The book has been translated into many foreign Ianguages ;therefore，it also has exercised much influence on foreign literature.
《水浒传》是中国文学史上第一部描写农民起义全过程的长篇小说，是明清英雄传奇小说的代表作。它的成书大体经历了历史记载、民间传说和文人加工润色三个阶段。它的作者，一般认为是施耐庵、罗贯中。《水浒传》描写了北宋末年宋江领导的梁山起义英雄杀富济贫、替天行道的故事，广泛地反映了封建社会的黑暗现实，揭露了统治阶级的腐朽罪恶，反映了人民群众的痛苦，揭示了封建社会农民起义和农民战争的必然性。《水浒传》采用了连环勾锁、百川人海式的艺术结构，完整严谨而又富于变化。前71回由许多相对独立的小故事或英雄传记组成，采用的是单线条连环式的结构方式;71回以后写梁山义军逐步走向悲剧结局的过程，基本上采用平行推进展开情节的方法。另外它还灵活运用了分合结合、张弛结合、详略结合、直叙和穿插相结合等多种手法。《水浒传》打破了塑造典型形象的类型化格局，注意人物的个性化，让人物性格随着环境的变化而不断发展，成功地塑造了一系列英勇绝伦而又神态各异的英雄形象。《水浒传》的语言洗炼明快，朴素优美，富于民间色彩。《水浒传》所创造的英雄传奇体式，影响了同类小说的产生和发展，而且已有多种外文译本，对外国文学的创作也有一定影响。
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