A Study of Reader Response of Wu Wen-ying's Ci Poetry

Wu Wen-ying is not only an undoubtedly important figure in the history of ci poetry, but also a controversial ci poet. Since the late song dynasty, reviewers have been having different opinions about Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry, praising or criticizing. It is a special phenomenon in the history of ci criticism. This issue is worthy of further exploring both in the work itself, reader response, etc. Therefore, in this dissertation the author uses Wolfgang Iserâs âartisticâ and âaestheticâ concepts to discuss text and the reader response, researching in the art form of Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry and the reviewersâ criticism. Since the latter involves the reader responses in different times, this dissertation further elaborates through Hans Robert Jaussâ concepts of âhorizon of expectationâ and âreception history.â As for the art form, this dissertation discusses two parts in Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry, âthe organization of writingâ and the âdiction,â in order to explore the nature of its art form. The structure and composition of âthe organization of writingâ and the âdictionâ are relevant to the overall organization and each word in the text; Therefore, in âthe organization of writingâ, it will research in the âdesign of time and spaceâ and the âarrangement of fiction and reality.â As for the âdictionâ is concerned, the creative approach is analyzed by the âimage,â âallusion,â âsubstitute word,â and so on, and their possible impacts on reading. Moreover, regarding the history of ci criticism, this dissertation shows the criticism of Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry by ci poetry schools and ci poet groups in different times, through âsynchronicâ and âdiachronicâ approach and Hans Robert Jaussâ concept of âreception history.â After discussing ci poetsâ criticism, the other chapter of this dissertation will further examine on why Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry is so controversial. Each ci poetry school has different aesthetic orientation and horizon of expectation which affect its criticism. Thus, in this chapter there is further discussion about the reasons through âreview standardsâ and âreading mode.â Finally, the conclusion summarizes the preceding three parts, the art form, reviewersâ criticism on Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry, and the reason why Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry is controversial.