Often, they have complex and poignant character relationships. For example, in 'Dream of the Red Chamber', the relationships among the many characters in the Jia family are full of contradictions and misunderstandings, which lead to sad outcomes.
They usually reflect the social background at that time. 'To Live' shows the impact of historical events on ordinary people's lives. The cruel social environment is an important factor contributing to the sadness of the story.
Many Chinese novels in the list have complex plots. For example, 'Dream of the Red Chamber' has a very intricate web of relationships and family politics. They also often have deep cultural roots. 'Journey to the West' is full of Buddhist and Taoist elements.
One characteristic is their long - standing traditions. Chinese novels have a long history of development. They can be very imaginative, like in 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio' where there are all kinds of supernatural beings and events. Moreover, Chinese novels usually carry moral lessons. For instance, 'Water Margin' shows the consequences of social injustice and the importance of loyalty among the heroes.
Chinese novels usually have a strong sense of history. They are either set in specific historical periods, like 'Journey to the West' which has elements related to Buddhism's spread in ancient China. And they also have a variety of themes. There are novels about love like 'Lotus Lantern', and novels about social problems such as 'The Scholars'. The language used can also be very poetic and vivid, adding to the overall charm of the novels.
Most Chinese novels have complex character relationships. For example, in 'Dream of the Red Chamber', there are dozens of important characters, and their interactions are very intricate, which makes the story very engaging.
The best sad novels often have complex characters. For example, in 'A Little Life', Jude's character is multi - faceted. His past traumas shape his present self, and his relationships are deeply affected. This makes the readers feel his pain more acutely. Also, a sense of loss is common. In 'The Fault in Our Stars', the characters are losing their battle with cancer, and the loss of their future together is heart - breaking.
Sad short novels frequently explore themes of mortality. They make the readers aware of the transient nature of life. The characters may face death or be haunted by the inevitability of it. The use of foreshadowing also plays a role. It gives hints about the sad events that are going to occur, creating a sense of impending doom. And often, there is a lack of resolution or a bittersweet resolution at best. The problems or situations in the story are not fully resolved in a happy way.
Sad romantic novels often involve unfulfilled love. For example, the lovers may be separated by circumstances like distance, social class, or illness. This creates a sense of longing and melancholy.
Often, they involve the loss of something important like love, dreams or lives. For example, in many sad ending novels, the main character may lose their beloved one.
They often have a love story at the core that is doomed or faces great obstacles. For example, in 'Romeo and Juliet', the family feud is the huge obstacle for their love. This kind of situation creates a sense of sadness.
They also frequently touch on the transience of life. Japanese culture has a concept of 'mono no aware', which is an awareness of the impermanence of things. In sad novels, this can be expressed through the loss of loved ones, the end of relationships, or the fading away of dreams. For instance, a character may lose their partner suddenly, and the novel then explores their grief and how they come to terms with this loss in a world where everything is constantly changing.