Abstract:

Classic categorizations, such as “human beings are animals with two feet,” have obvious defections, as they are too limited to cover the wide range of instances or not rich enough to fully represent the characteristics of the type of beings. The literary prototype theory based on the classic categorization, which regards prototypes as combinations of universal properties and specific particularities, is essentialist and incapable of exploring the true value of prototypes. It is discovered by Eleanor Rosch and other scholars that the abstract attributes are not the criteria for classification of types in everyday life; rather, the most typical prototypes are often used as models to specify the members. A case in point is the robin which has most of the attributes of birds such as laying eggs, beak, wings, feathers, but other members within this category do not equally share the same attributes, with a gradience from the prototypes to the marginal ones, hence the display of richness and extensiveness. The literary prototype based on such theory can fully represent the kind of people, transcending the essentialist theory of prototype both vertically and horizontally. Rosch also divides categories into three levels. On the basic level, the category, such as a dog, is perceptively distinct. It is the base of the whole category system and the prototype of the superordinate and subordinate levels’ categories. On the superordinate level, categories such as the animal have only a few common characteristics. Members of the category on the subordinate level, such as the retriever, have only a few differences. Literary prototypes are based on the basic concept of mankind in general sense, characterized by subordinate categories, such as the hero and the miser. Its richness underscores its universality.

Key words:

Eleanor Rosch; categorization, prototype theory, essentialism