TTLV: Urban narrative in the novels of Nguyen Binh Phuong and Kim Vu Truong (through *Fading Memory*, *Sitting*, and *Prosperity*)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: DO LAN ANH 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: June 30, 2001

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision No. 5626/QD-XHNV, dated December 29, 2023, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title: Urban narrative in the novels of Nguyen Binh Phuong and Kim Vu Truong (throughMemory failing, SittingandProsperity)

8. Major: Literary Theory Code: 8229030

9. Scientific supervisor: Dr. Ngo Viet Hoan, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

- A theoretical framework has been developed based on a combination of urban narrative and moral narrative; thereby positioning the city in literature not merely as a geographical setting but as a "narrative entity" and "moral agent" that strongly influences the spiritual life and ethical choices of modern man.

- The thesis analyzed and compared three representative works (Memory Fades, Sitting, Flourishing)This demonstrates that both Nguyen Binh Phuong and Kim Vu Truong successfully construct postmodern urban narrative paradigms through techniques such as time discontinuity, memory regression, narrative multi-lineage, and stream-of-consciousness fragmentation.

- Clarifying the differences in the artistic mechanisms of the two authors: Nguyen Binh Phuong constructs the city as a psychological labyrinth with existential overtones, where characters experience inner crisis and disintegration of their being; while Kim Vu Truong presents the city as a socio-historical space, where value systems clash and people confront the disconnect between tradition and modernity.

- Affirming the role of urban space in creating "moral dilemmas," forcing characters to confront and choose between personal desires, social pressure, and moral standards; thereby demonstrating the similarities and peculiarities in urban culture and literature between Vietnam and China.

11. Practical applications:

- The research findings provide a deeper understanding of the nature of modern urban life, not only in terms of material aspects but also in terms of psychological trauma and shifts in moral values. At the same time, the thesis offers a valuable reference point for comparing Vietnamese and Chinese literature and culture in the context of modernization and urbanization in East Asia.

12. Future research directions:

- Continue surveying other urban authors (especially female writers), develop interdisciplinary research (with urban sociology, existential psychology), and expand comparative urban literature in East Asia (Hanoi, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, etc.).

13. Published works related to the thesis:

- Nguyen Thai Ha, Do Lan Anh (2025), The problem of collective unconscious and moral choice inSitby Nguyen Binh Phuong,Journal of Science, Hanoi Metropolitan University(No. 102), pp. 70-78.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: DO LAN ANH. 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: June 30, 2001. 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 5626/QD-XHNV Dated: December 29, 2023

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title: Urban Narratives in Nguyen Binh Phuong's and Jin Yucheng's Novels: Case of FadingMemory, Sitting, andBlossoms.

8. Major: Literary Theories 9. Code: 8229030

10. Supervisors: Dr. Ngo Viet Hoan University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

- The study developed a theoretical framework based on the combination of urban narrative and narrative ethics. This approach positions the city in literature not merely as a geographical setting, but as a powerful 'narrative entity' and 'ethical agent.' As such, the city strongly governs the spiritual life and moral choices of modern individuals.

- The thesis analyzed and compared three representative works:Fading Memory, Sitting, and Blossoms. It demonstrates that both Nguyen Binh Phuong and Kim Vu Trung (Jin Yucheng) successfully constructed a postmodern urban narrative paradigm through techniques such as temporal fragmentation, memory regression, multi-linear narration, and the fragmentation of stream of consciousness.

- The research clarified the differences in the artistic mechanisms of the two authors: Nguyen Binh Phuong constructs the city as a psychological maze imbued with existential color, where characters experience internal crisis and the disintegration of the self; Whereas Jin Yucheng presents the city as a historical-societal space, where value systems collide and people confront the rupture between tradition and modernity.

- Finally, the study affirmed the role of urban space in creating 'ethical knots' that force characters to confront and choose between personal desires, social pressures, and moral standards, thereby demonstrating the similarities and specificities in urban culture and literature between Vietnam and China.

12. Practical applicability:

- The results of this study offer significant insights into the nature of modern urban life, extending beyond material conditions to encompass psychological traumas and the profound transformation of moral values. Moreover, the thesis furnishes a crucial comparative framework for examining Vietnamese and Chinese literature and culture amid the wider context of modernization and urbanization across East Asia.

13. Further research directions:

- Future research should expand the focus beyond the current scope to include other urban authors, paying special attention to female writers. This could be coupled with the initiation of interdisciplinary projects, integrating insights from urban sociology and existential psychology. Such efforts should also seek to deepen the comparative framework of urban literary studies across East Asian metropolitan centers (eg Hanoi, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo).

14. Thesis-related publications:

- Nguyen Thai Ha, Do Lan Anh (2025), The Question of the Collective Unconscious and Moral Choice inSitby Nguyen Binh Phuong,Scientific Journal - Hanoi Metropolitan University,(No. 102), pp. 70–78.