Distinguishing Literary Excellence from Mediocrity in Writers and Their Works

 Distinguishing Literary Excellence from Mediocrity in Writers and Their Works

Writers and Their Works

Evaluating a writer and their works Can be approached from multiple angles Yet at its core, it all boils down to this: Judge the writer by their compassionate vision Judge the work by its aesthetic spirit and artistic conception This criterion may seem somewhat broad But to tell literary greats apart from mediocrities There is no need for over-elaborate distinctions Compassion is benevolence and empathy Vision is tolerance and magnanimity "When the great wind rises, clouds surge across the sky; Where can I find valiant warriors to guard the four borders of my land?" "To worry before the people under heaven worry; To rejoice only after the people under heaven rejoice." This is what we call compassionate vision And what is more It is a broad and noble vision "Do you know? Do you know? The green leaves should be lush, while the red flowers fade and thin." This too is a kind of vision Yet it carries a touch of petty sentimentality Spirit is the inner essence and ethos Conception is the existential realm and ambiance "A land of eternal fame and glory; Nowhere to find heroes like Sun Zhongmou of yore." Here, the spirit soars high and the conception stretches wide Brimming with grand ambition and strategic foresight "By the broken bridge outside the post house, A plum blossom blooms alone, unloved and unclaimed. At dusk, it stands solitary, steeped in sorrow; To make things worse, it is buffeted by wind and rain." Here, the spirit is bleak and the conception is dim If it were not for the line "Yet its fragrance remains unchanged, as ever" This piece would hold little redeeming value