Abstract: Comparative literature is usually a comparative study within a particular literary genre, but cross-genre comparative study should also be incorporated. In the history of comparative literature between Chinese and Western literature since the modern era, Shakespeare’s plays were often not only compared with Chinese classical drama, but also with Chinese non-dramatic literature, especially Chinese classical novels. This cross-genre comparative phenomenon is a unique cultural phenomenon with rich historical connotations in modern China, as well as a manifestation of literary exchange and mutual learning in the current context. From the perspective of operational norms and theoretical basis, cross-genre comparative research requires researchers to be able to keenly detect the inherent compatibility between asymmetrical genre objects that may not appear similar on the surface, and thereby generate genuine academic value by raising problem-consciousness. By accurately understanding the concept of “comparison” in comparative literature and carefully clarifying the relationship between comparative literature and comparative studies of similarity and difference, it is of great significance to recognize the cross-genre comparative research.

Key words: Chinese non-dramatic literature and Shakespearean drama, cross-genre comparative study, compatibility, problem-consciousness, similarity and difference

摘要： 比较文学通常是在同一种文学体裁类型中进行的比较和对话,但跨文类比较研究也应属于比较文学的范畴。在近代以降的中外文学比较史上,莎士比亚戏剧不仅经常被拿来与中国古典戏剧比较,还被用来同中国的非戏剧文学,特别是与中国古典小说加以比较。这一跨文类比较现象,既是一种具有中国近现代独特历史内涵的文化现象,又是当下语境中中外文学交流互鉴的表征。从操作规范与学理依据层面看,跨文类比较需要研究者敏锐发现不对称文类对象之间内在的而非表面相似的相容性,并由此引发出具有真正学理价值的问题意识,进而在彰显问题意识中深入理性把握问题的本质。准确理解比较文学的“比较”、细心厘清比较文学与同异比较的关系,对于认知跨文类比较研究具有重要意义。

关键词: 中国非戏剧文学与莎剧, 跨文类比较研究, 相容性, 问题意识, 同异关系