TTLA: The Art of Narrative in Haruki Murakami's Novels

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate: Dang Phuong Thao2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth : 26/01/1981          4. Place of birthHanoi

5. Decision to recognize Doctoral Candidate No.Decision No. 3216/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated December 31, 2014, of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process:Extension of training and study time according to Decision No. 3549/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2017, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities:

7. Thesis title:

                     The art of narrative in Haruki Murakami's novels

8. Major:Literary Theory                         9. Code:62 22 01 20

10. Scientific supervisor:Prof. Dr. Le Huy Bac

Dr. Dao Thi Thu Hang

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

This thesis asserts that Murakami is a pioneering Japanese writer in the innovation of narrative art. Murakami's innovations both inherit tradition and adapt and combine with the beauty of Western narrative art, creating a unique artistic style that contributes to integrating national literature into the mainstream of regional and world literature.

This dissertation delves into an analysis of first-person narrative form from a multi-line point of view, with the increase in subjects, the exchange of subjects, and narrative forms through letters, shifting viewpoints, collage, and polyphonic qualities creating a lyrical, nostalgic, satirical, self-deprecating, philosophical, and contemplative chorus that represents a breakthrough in Murakami's storytelling technique.

The thesis shows that the writer has built a rich system of characters with two distinct character types: the traumatized type, characterized by the image of a lonely person, a person with suicidal tendencies, a person striving to heal from trauma; and the fantastical type, with supernatural people, living souls, symbolic characters.

The thesis also points out that the shift from real to virtual time and space in Murakami's novels conveys a message about a multifaceted, multi-layered world, containing many mysteries that humanity has yet to fully explore and explain. The way space and time are organized creates a postmodern "atmosphere" with unique characteristics, reflecting Murakami's view of the world and humanity: a life - a chaotic, nihilistic world, where people are lonely and lost. However, in the profound loneliness of those immersed in that "atmosphere," his characters still strive to find meaning in life.

12. Practical applications:

The results of this thesis provide a basis for further research into the author's new works and Murakami's influence on the younger generation of writers after Murakami. This is of great significance in understanding the typical artistic trends of contemporary Japanese literature, through which we can compare them with the development of contemporary Vietnamese literature.

13. Further research directions (if any):

14. Published works related to the dissertation:

- Dao Thi Thu Hang, Dang Phuong Thao (2014),"The distinctive artistic style of Haruki Murakami"”,Scientific Journal, Hanoi University of Education(3), pp. 87 - 94.

- Dang Phuong Thao (2017),"The chaotic narrative style in Haruki Murakami's novel *Kafka on the Shore*",Scientific Journal, Hanoi University of Education(7), pp. 34 - 37.

- Dang Phuong Thao (2017),"The chorus of voices in Haruki Murakami's novels",Scientific Journal, Hanoi University of Education(11), pp.18-28.

- Dang Phuong Thao (2018)), "Traumatic character types in Haruki Murakami's novels",Scientific Journal, Hanoi University of Education(4), pp. 63-76.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full nameDang Phuong Thao 2.Sexfemale
3. Date of birthJanuary 26, 1981 4.Place of birthHanoi

5. decision number: 3216 / 2014 / QD - XHNV- SĐH. Date: 12/31/2014 of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the academic processRenewal of training.

Renewal decision number:

7. Official thesis title:

8. WallLiterary Theory9. Code: 62 22 01 20

10. SupervisorsProfessor, Doctor Le Huy Bac

Doctor Dao Thi Thu Hang

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

The thesis emphasizes that Murakami is the pioneer Japanese writer in innovating the narrative art. Innovations of Murakami are both of inheriting traditions and of continuing, combining with the beauty of Western narrative art, creating a unique artistic style which contributes to bringing the national literature into the large flow of regional and international literature.

The thesis analyzes deeply the first-person narrative method via multi-line viewpoint with the increase of subjects, the exchange of subjects and the narrative method via letters, the movement of viewpoints, the multi-tone perspective. All of the abovementioned aspects create a lyrical, nostalgic, satirical, philosophical, and contemplative choir, which makes a breakthrough in the storytelling technique of Murakami.

The thesis indicates that the writer has built a large system of characters with two typical kinds of characters: Hurt characters with the images of lonely people, people having a tendency of committing suicide, people trying to heal their hurts; Fanciful characters with supernatural people, living souls, sign-symbol characters.

The thesis also illustrates the movement from real to virtual of the time and art spaces in Murakami's novels, which conveys the message of a multilateral and multi-layered world containing a lot of mysteries that people have not discovered and explained yet. The method of organizing spaces and time has brought a postmodern "atmosphere" with unique aspects expressing Murakami's viewpoint about the world and humans: a chaotic, nothingness world with lonely and lost people. However, in the most loneliness of people immersing in this "atmosphere", his characters still raise up to look for their life's meanings.

The results of the thesis are the foundation for us to continue and expand this research in the writer's new works and Murakami's effects on the generation of young writers. This is a meaningful action to indicate the typical art trend of Japanese contemporary literature, thereby we can compare with the movement and development of Vietnamese contemporary literature.

13. Further research directions, if any:

14. Thesis – related publications:

- Dao Thi Thu Hang, Dang Phuong Thao (2014),"The artistic style of Murakami Haruki”,Journal of Science (Hanoi University)(3), pp.87 - 94.

- Dang Phuong Thao (2017),"Chaoticnarrativein Harruki Murakami's novelKafka on the Shore",Journal of Science (Hanoi University)(7), pp.34 - 37.

- Dang Phuong Thao (2017),"The chorus of tone in Haruki Murakami's novels”,Journal of Science (Hanoi University)(11), pp.18 - 28.

- Dang Phuong Thao (2018),"Traumatized type of characterin Haruki Murakami's novels”,Journal of Science (Hanoi University)(4), pp.63-76.