The Spread Of "Leaves Of Grass"

Walter Whitman was a famous American poet in the 19th century. His collection of poems "Leaves of Grass" has been renowned in the literary world. In China, the fresh leaves of grass cultivated by Whitman have already grown and taken deep root.His impact on the new Chinese literature, esp.on the new Chinese poetry, to some degree, has promoted the modern transition of Chinese poetry. However, the researches of the current academic circles on Whitman mostly focus on the individuality of Whitman and the comparison between Whitman and certain individual Chinese poet and fewer interpretations have been done from the poetic charicteristics.Thus, the overall impact of Whitman on the new Chinese poetry and his unique function in the development of Chinese poetry are relatively neglected. In addition, the current circles also lack the overall awareness and concern on the intermediary function of Japanese culture which played a great role in Guo Moruo's acceptance of Whitman's artistic spirit during the "5.4" new literature movement, a great literature movement in China in 1919. In view of the deficiencies in the current researches, the paper takes Whitman and the impact of his Leaves of Grass on Chinese modern poetry into the consideration and attempts to study the impact of Whitman's poetry on Chinese modern poetry on a macro and overall level. The paper is divided into three parts:Chapter 1: The intermediary factors causing the passionate collisionbetween Guo Moruo ang WhitmanAs an intermediary and a bridge for Guo Moruo to study western culture, Japanese culture played an inestimable role in Guo Moruo's acceptance of Whitman.This chapter mainly delves into the Japanese intermediary function of Guo Moruo's acceptance of Whitman'sartistic spirit through the cultural turn from " real learning " to " literature " during the Taisho Age, a very important period in the history of Japan, the guiding practice of literature and arts and the esteem and dissemination of Whitman in Japan.Chapter II: The impact of the imagery system of Leaves of Grass on modern Chinese poetryThis chapter, on the basis of powerful natural and city images-the sea, the sun and roads in Leaves of Grass, observes the feature of modernity which the Chinese modern poetry shows. Under its influence Chinese modern poets have built an impressive modern poetry building of natural images.The comparison between the magnificent charicteristics of images and the solemn, quiet and harmonious beauty advocated by traditional Chinese poetry is totally the modern esthetic shape with special characeristics.And also under its influence, modern Chinese poets have transplanted the flowers of city images into the forest of Chines poetry. Therefore, it breaks the closed and traditional imagery system which centers on natural images, and promotes the being and development of modern city images.Chapter III: The impact of Whitman's troubadour spirit on modern Chinese poetsThe chapter mainly explores the impact of Whitman on modern Chinese poetry from the spirit of poetics. Whitman's optimistic and progressive troubadour spirit of singing for the times made the modern wandering Chinese poets, who were bearing the resposibilities of the times and pursuiting the home of spirit, get the converting of spirit of life. The modern Chinese poets who loved Whitman would rather drift around than refuse to wander like ancient Chinese poets. And the passion burst out during their wandering made them different from the lonely singing of traditional and contemporary wandering poets.Their wandering life was no longer empty because of the heavy responsibility born on their shoulders, but had a heavy historical significance on the contrary.