Characteristics include the reflection of the social values of the time. 'The Scholars' shows the importance placed on scholarship in ancient society. The narrative style can be episodic, like in 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio' where each tale is somewhat independent. And the use of symbolism is common, such as the use of certain animals or objects to represent certain qualities or ideas.
Often, they feature rich descriptions of the architecture, like the grand pyramids and temples. For example, in many such novels, you can vividly picture the hieroglyph - covered walls.
Ancient science fiction books often had a mix of myth and early scientific ideas. For example, they might include tales of flying machines inspired by the idea of birds flying, but also mixed with the magic and superstition of the time.
Ancient Egyptian fiction books often had strong elements of the supernatural. Gods, demons, and magical creatures were frequently part of the stories. For example, in 'The Tale of Sinuhe', the power of the pharaoh was almost god - like.
One characteristic is the use of historical settings. For example, ancient historical fiction books often take place in specific time periods like ancient Rome or Greece. Another is the inclusion of real historical figures. These figures add authenticity. For instance, in books about Cleopatra, she is a real person from history. Also, they usually have detailed descriptions of the culture of that time, like the clothing, food, and social hierarchies.
Ancient China fiction books often have rich cultural connotations. For example, they may reflect the values, moral concepts and social hierarchies of that time. They usually have vivid characterizations. Just like in 'Journey to the West', the Monkey King is a very distinct character.
Ancient Greek fiction books often feature gods and goddesses. For example, in 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey', the gods play important roles, interfering in human affairs. They also tend to have a strong sense of adventure. Heroes go on long and dangerous quests, like Jason seeking the Golden Fleece.
Well, in many ancient war fiction books, there is a focus on the camaraderie among soldiers. In 'The Song of Roland', the loyalty and friendship among the knights are emphasized. These books also often show the impact of war on civilians. For instance, in 'War and Peace', Tolstoy shows how ordinary people's lives are disrupted by the Napoleonic Wars. Additionally, the description of military formations and tactics can be another characteristic, as seen in books that describe ancient battles in detail like 'The Art of War' in terms of theoretical military strategies applied in fictional scenarios.
Ancient Babylon fiction books often feature their complex pantheon of gods. For example, in 'The Epic of Gilgamesh', the gods play important roles in the plot, influencing the fate of the characters.
Ancient Greek fictional books often had strong ties to mythology. Characters were frequently gods, goddesses, or heroes. For example, in 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey', the actions of gods like Zeus and Athena greatly influenced the human characters. Also, they were used to convey moral and cultural values. The fables of Aesop, for instance, were short stories with a clear moral at the end.
The characteristics of ancient books of the Ming Dynasty included the changes in font, paper, format, and binding methods. The characters of the ancient books in the early Ming Dynasty were influenced by the Yuan Dynasty. Most of them used Zhao characters, which were elegant and charming. As time passed, the handwriting gradually became stiff, and the strokes were light and heavy, which later became the "Imitation Song Style". In terms of paper, ancient books of the Ming Dynasty often used black cotton paper, white hemp paper, or jute paper, and the paper curtain pattern was wider. In terms of format, the names of the engraving workers were often recorded under the heart of the ancient books of the Ming Dynasty, and some were even engraved with the word "publish". Most of the binding methods were butterfly or back-wrapped. In general, the ancient books of the Ming Dynasty were marked by the gradual stiffness of the font, the wide curtain pattern on the paper, the names of the engraving workers engraved under the format, and the various binding methods.