隨着商品經濟的繁榮，城市人口的劇增，通俗的民間文學在宋代也得到了空前的發展，話本小說是宋代民間文學的代表。
話本的産生和類別
在宋代城市的大衆娛樂場所“瓦肆”中，有一種以講故事、說笑話為主的活動，即“說話”。“說話”分為四傢，即小說、講史、說經、合生。四傢中，小說、講史最為重要，影響也最大。我們今天所說的小說實際上就包括了宋代的小說與講史這兩種。
話本，就是說話人說話的底本，它主要包括講史和小說兩大類。前者是用淺近的文言講述歷史上的帝王將相的故事；後者指的是用通行的白話來講述平凡人的故事。宋代的講史話本有《五代史平話》、《大宋宣和遺事》、《全相平話五種》等。這些話本以正史為主要依據，但也采入一些傳說、異聞等，同時也不免虛構，以增強吸引力。它們的情節往往較麯折，篇幅較長。元明清的歷史小說正是由此演變而成的。
小說話本的思想和藝術成就
宋代小說話本主要保存在《京本通俗小說》和《清平山堂話本》及“三言”中。一般為短篇故事，多表現現實生活，其中愛情和公案題材比較多。作品人物形象鮮明，頗具個性色彩，善於通過行動、對話表現人物性格和心理。女性形象塑造尤為成功，如《快嘴李翠蓮》中的李翠蓮、《碾玉觀音》中的璩秀秀等。情節安排麯折生動，脈絡清晰，引人入勝。基本運用白話，通俗簡明，生動活潑，有濃郁的生活氣息。代表作有《錯斬崔寧》、《碾玉觀音》、《志誠張主管》、《鬧樊樓多情周勝仙》等。《碾玉觀音》通過出身貧寒被賣到郡王府的女奴璩秀秀為爭得自由，尋求美好生活所進行的一係列鬥爭的描寫，表現了處於被壓迫地位的女性對愛情的追求以及同封建統治者頑強鬥爭的意志，歌頌了他們純潔、善良的心靈和反抗精神。揭露了封建統治者對下層人民的殘酷壓迫。作品情節麯折離奇，波瀾起伏。故事以鬼魂復仇結尾，深化了主題，既表現了秀秀寧死不屈的反抗精神，又寄托了人們惡有惡報的願望。小說中秀秀的聰明美麗、心靈手巧、直率潑辣、頑強機敏，崔寧的憨厚樸實、而又怯懦，鹹安郡王的驕橫殘忍，郭排軍的狡猾姦詐，都表現得性格鮮明，栩栩如生。例如寫秀秀、崔寧在鹹安郡王府大火逃出後相見的情形：秀秀道：“你記得也不記得？”崔寧叉着手，衹應得喏。秀秀道：“當日衆人都替你喝彩‘好對夫妻！'你怎地到（倒）忘了？”崔寧又則應得喏。秀秀道：“比似衹管等待，何不今夜我和你先做夫妻？不知你意下如何？”崔寧道：“豈敢！”秀秀道：“你知道不敢，我叫將起來，教壞了你，你卻如何將我到傢中，我明日府裏去說。”崔寧道：“告小娘子：要和崔寧做夫妻不妨，衹一件，這裏住不得了。”
從這段對話中我們可以看到，秀秀咄咄逼人，大膽主動，相反，崔寧作為男性，卻始終處於守勢，憨態可掬。
魯迅先生曾經指出，宋元話本的出現“實在是小說史上的一大變遷”（《中國小說史的歷史變遷》）。確實，宋代話本小說與長期以文言文為語言的中國古代文學傳統完全不同，它是中國小說史上第一次將白話作為小說的語言進行創作，這是一個突出的進步。在人物塑造上，宋代話本小說以平凡人物為主，不再將非凡人物作為主要的塑造對象，這是中國小說進一步走嚮平民化的標志。另外，宋代話本小說采取的是在“說話”這樣的場景裏展開故事的敘述方式，這樣的敘述模式後來成了白話小說的經典敘述方式。以上幾個方面對於明清小說、白話小說的影響都是非常巨大的。
With the commodity economy, the rapid increase in urban population, the popular folk literature in the Song has also been an unprecedented development, then this novel is representative of the Song Dynasty folk literature.
If this type of production and
Mass entertainment in the Song Dynasty City "watts market", there is a kind of storytelling, jokes based activities, namely, "to speak." "Speaking" is divided into four, namely, novel, about history, said that upon, Hopson. 4, the novel about the history of the most important, the greatest impact. We said in effect, including the Song dynasty novel novels about the history and the two.
If this is the speaker talking libretto, it is mainly about history and fiction into two categories. The former is Qianjin about the history of classical Chinese emperor of the story; the latter refers to the common vernacular used to tell the story of ordinary people. History of the Song Dynasty about the "Five Dynasties Ping me" and "Great Song Xuan and Kingdoms", "if the five-phase level," and so on. These words by official history as the main basis for this, but also adopted into a number of legends, different smell, etc., but also can not help but fiction, to enhance attractiveness. They are often more plot twists and turns, takes a little longer. Yuan, Ming's historical novel is thus evolved.
Small talk ideas and artistic achievements
The Song Dynasty mainly stored in the "Kyoto of the popular novel" and "Qingpingshantang" and "three words". Generally short stories, and more performance in real life, of which more love and Detective subjects. Works distinct characters, rather individual character, good through action, dialogue, Personality and mental performance. Image of women particularly successful, such as "Readily Li Cuilian" in Li Cuilian, "telling," in Qu Xiu Xiu, etc.. The plot twists and vivid, the clarity of imagination. Basic use of vernacular, popular, concise, lively, with rich flavor of life. Representative of the "wrong cut Cui Ning," "telling," "director Zhang Zhicheng," "downtown Fanlou passionate Zhou Sheng Sin," and so on. "Ben" was sold by impoverished Dukes House slave Qu Xiu Xiu to gain freedom and seek a better life in a series of descriptions of the struggle, the performance of the oppressed status of women in the pursuit of love and with the feudal tenacious struggle of the will of the ruler, extolling their pure and kind heart and spirit of resistance. The feudal rulers of the lower exposed the cruel oppression of the people. Works strange plot twists and turns, ups and downs. Ghost revenge story ends, deepening the theme, not only showed the spirit of resistance Xiu rather die than surrender, they entrusted the desire of people around comes around. Xiu Xiu novel smart beautiful, clever and deft, direct forceful, tenacious wit, sharp weapon of the simple and honest and simple, yet cowardly, cruel Haman Dukes of arrogance, cunning treachery Guo Pai military have acted character distinct and vivid. For example, write Xiu Xiu, Cui Ning in Haman Dukes meet the government's case after the fire escape: Xiu Xiu: "You remember that do not remember?" Cui Ning fork to proceed, should only be Well. Xiu Xiu: "The day they were all cheering for you 'a good couple!' You Zende to the (inverted) forget?" Cui Ning Well it should be. Xiu Xiu: "The ratio may simply wait, why do not you and I do first wife tonight? Do you think?" Cui Ning said: "Qi Gan!" Xiu Xiu: "You know not, my name will be up and teach you bad, How do you have my home, I go tomorrow, the government said. "Cui Ning Road:" Little lady told: do couples may wish to, and Cui Ning, only one, incredible live here. "
From this dialogue we can see, Xiu aggressive, bold initiative, on the contrary, Cui Ning as men, but always on the defensive, naive.
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