Abstract

Hu Shi, a pioneer in English poetry translation, translated many well-known poems into Chinese whose influence was so fundamental that studies of his work never cease in China. This paper will focus on Hu Shi’s poetry translation, using it as an individual case to study the creative treason in Hu Shi’s translation. With close evaluation of Hu’s work, the author aims at finding out different types and the main cause of creative treason, which may help to understand Hu Shi, as a person and a translator. By analyzing the creative treason in Hu Shi’s poetry translation, the author finds two kinds of rebellious emotions. One is for the suppressed social situation; the other is for the oppressed relationship in seeking love.

Keywords: creative treason; poetry translation; rebellious emotion

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Creative Treason in Literary Translation-1

1.2 Background of Hu Shi and His Achievement-1

2. Three Periods of Poetry Translation-3

2.1 Division of Hu Shi’s Poetry Translation-3

2.2 The First Period-3

2.2.1 First Experiment Period in English Poetry Translation-3

2.2.2 Theme of Poems during the First Period-4

2.3 Experiment of Translation in Lisao-4

2.3.1 Main Feature of Lisao-4

2.3.2 Changes in the Theme of Poems-4

2.4 Maturity of Translation in Vernacular Language-5

2.4.1 Changes in the Feature of Poems-5

2.4.2 The Theme of the Third Period-6

3. Creative Treason in Hu Shi’s Translation-7

3.1 Creative Treason on Graphological Level-7

3.1.1 Omission of Punctuation-7

3.1.2 Addition of Punctuation-8

3.1.3 Change of Punctuation-8

3.2 Rearrangement of Lines-9

3.2.1 Creative Treason in Enjambments-9

3.3 Creative Treason of Words-10

3.3.1 Addition of Words-10

3.3.2 Omission of Words-10

4. Unrest Emotional Rebellion of Hu Shi-12

4.1 Rebellion of Social Situation-12

4.2 Rebellion of Love-12

Conclusion-13

Works Cited-14