论英国后现代主义文学的发展轨迹

Postmodernism in British Literature: A Historical Survey

回顾英国后现代主义文学的发展轨迹,我们看到英国文学因其强大的现实主义传统,其后现代主义试验性相对于美国和法国不那么强烈。英国后现代主义文学火花始于20世纪30年代末,但在40、50年代其后现代主义试验性却相对沉寂,要到60、70年代才成燎原之势。然而从70年代下半叶开始至90年代,英国后现代主义文学的试验性却开始下滑,倾向通俗化和兼收并蓄,同时出现"国际化"现象。

This historical survey of postmodernism in British literature traces its development from inception in the late 1930 s, to its expansion in the 1940-50 s and prosperity in the 1960-70 s, and to its decline in experimental zest over three decades from the late 1970 s through 1990 s, when eclecticism and ＂internationalization＂ became literary norms. Postmodernism in British literature, the article argues, never reached an acme as in America and France because the British value their own great tradition of realism.