Methods of literary writing are primary means by which writers artistically observe and represent the reality of life, which present themselves in the course of literary writing and in literary works themselves. However individualistic and peculiar literary works are, they follow certain common rules consciously or unconsciously. Realism was popular in a particular historical period as a literary school, but its theory of literary writing did not take shape in one day nor did it never vary. More importantly, realistic spirit shows great vitality to penetrate and carry on. No doubt the 20th century Chinese realist literature owed its theory to three pioneer realist traditions, that is, classical realism in Chinese tradition, the 19th century European critical realism, and the realism of the former Soviet. Hence the three peaks of realist literature in China, the May4th realist literature, the postliberation realist literature, and realist literature in the new period.

the 20th century Chinese literature; realist literature; poetics