Abstract

Northanger Abbey, one of Jane Austen’s most important works, is characterized by the unique employment of postmodern narrative techniques like parody and metafiction. This paper inquires how Northanger Abbey is manipulated as a parody of gothic fiction and how Jane Austen uses the form of metafiction to explore the art of fiction writing. As a novel of 18th century, the employment of postmodern narrative techniques in Northanger Abbey not only adds the aesthetic charm to the novel, but also demonstrates Jane Austen’s great experimental skills as a classic writer in English literature.

Key words:  Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, postmodern narrative techniques, parody, metafiction
 
摘 要

作为简•奥斯汀早期的重要作品，《诺桑觉寺》在创作中采用了一些后现代叙事技巧，比如戏仿、元小说等，构成了该小说的一大特色。本文主要探讨该小说后现代叙事技巧的具体运用，包括奥斯汀在该小说中如何通过对哥特小说形式的戏仿来传达自己的严肃主题，如何通过元小说的叙事策略来思考小说美学。作为一部创作于18世纪的作品，《诺桑觉寺》中后现代叙事技巧的运用不仅大大增添了小说的艺术性，而且还展现了奥斯汀作为英国文学经典作家在小说创作中难能可贵的实验精神。

关键词：简•奥斯汀；《诺桑觉寺》；后现代叙事技巧；戏仿；元小说
 
1.    Introduction
Jane Austen, born in a clerical family in Hampshire, England Steven Dayton town, lived a peaceful, well-off country life. She ranked sixth among eight brothers and sisters, and had never been to formal school. Although Cassandra was her lifelong best friend, this great writer’s elementary education got more from her father. Austen ardently loved reading and writing, which spurred her creation from the age of 11. After her coming of age, Austen moved with her family several times. Being taken ill, to facilitate the medical treatment, Austen moved with the whole family to Manchester, died two months later. Jane Austen was buried in Winchester Cathedral, never married, and died at the age of 41.