When talking with young Swedish students, Mo Yan showed respect for Chinese authors that he learned writing from, particularly Shen Congwen, who was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize. 

"Lu Xun, Lao She, Mao Dun and Shen Congwen, they are more qualified for the Nobel Prize than me," he said,. Among the writers he learned from, he said he especially felt close to Shen Congwen, as they have similar life experiences. 

Both of them left school early and did not get formal education. Shen quit after high school and Mo only finished the fifth grade. They both joined the army after school. " We both learned from the book of life," said Mo. 

The themes of their writing are also similar. Both writers have their hometown as the theme and root of their writings. Shen'works are mostly about his hometown, Xiangxi, and most of Mo's stories are set in his hometown, Gaomi, in Shandong Province. 

Mo said he also learned from Shen how to deal with characters in a fiction. Unlike most Chinese writers, Shen has a humanistic touch towards all of his characters. Said Mo, "In his works, there are no particularly bad person or good person. Even gangsters and thieves have their humane side," he said. 

"I try to use the same approach in my writing. It shows the ability of a novelist when he treats all the characters as humans," he said. 

Mo said he also learned Lu Xun's depth and Lao She's humor. "They are all my teachers, and I am the student," he said. "I feel ashamed from my heart that teachers did not get the prize, but the student got it."
Who received 2 nominations for the Nobel Prize?
Who praised Shen?
Why did Mo feel close to Shen?
Who else did Mo commend?
And?
Did Mo finish school?
How much school did he complete?
What about Shen?
What did they do after quitting school?
What did Mo call this experience?
Are the themes of their writing similar?
What is the basis of their writings?
What is Mo's hometown?
And Shen's?
What did Mo say he learned from Shen?
What is unusual for Shen in his writings?
Does Mo try to replicate this in his writing?
Why?
What quality did Mo learn from Lu?
And Lao?
Shen Congwen
Shen Congwen, who was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize
Mo Yan
Mo Yan showed respect for Chinese authors that he learned writing from, particularly Shen Congwen, who was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize. 
they have similar life experiences
they have similar life experiences
Lu Xun
Lu Xun
Mao Dun
Mao Dun
no
Both of them left school early and did not get formal education
fifth grade
Mo only finished the fifth grade
high school
Shen quit after high school
joined the army
They both joined the army after school
learning from the book of life
We both learned from the book of life," said Mo
yes
The themes of their writing are also similar
their hometown
their hometown as the theme and root of their writings
Gaomi
Mo's stories are set in his hometown, Gaomi
Xiangxi
Shen'works are mostly about his hometown, Xiangxi
how to deal with characters in a fiction
Mo said he also learned from Shen how to deal with characters in a fiction
he has a humanistic touch towards all of his characters
Unlike most Chinese writers, Shen has a humanistic touch towards all of his characters
yes
I try to use the same approach in my writing
it shows the ability of a novelist
 It shows the ability of a novelist
depth
Lu Xun's depth
humor
Lao She's humor