On Study Structural Features of Thai Modern Novels

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24520386
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Literatures/Literary theories in other countries and areas
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
• Principal Investigator: UDO SEIJI 東京外国語大学, 大学院総合国際学研究院, 教授 (30185053)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: タイ / 近代小説 / 物語構造 / コード分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study found that Thai modern novels have two structural features. Those are diachronic feature and synchronic feature. In the former, Thai novels form parts of a big scheme such as thoughts or religion. It is just the opposite of Japanese literature that have an effect to philosophy or thoughts. In Thai novels, there is also disconnection of expressive style between modern novels and classical literature. On the other hand, in the latter, narrative structure is limited to a chain of episodes so that people and society are not expressed from the multifarious or multi-layered perspective. As a result of analysis codes of specific novels, the approach of metaphor was often used in order to criticize the government in the era of regulation of freedom of speech. This study divided Thai modern novels according to structure, narrative and thoughts, so thereby that made the basis of Thai literary study.

Free Research Field

人文学