A Research On Literary Recreation Of Cathay From The Perspective Of The Reception Aesthetics Theory

Reception Aesthetics is an important aesthetic category in western literary theories. It is a theory of literary studies that stresses reader’s participation in the process of understanding the text, i.e., it is an important theoretical method of reception study in comparative literature. Only from reader’s reading can its social significance and aesthetic value be reflected. In terms of comparative literature study, one can understand what ingredients are being accepted, chosen, filtered and rewritten in literary translation. A growing number of literary works are studied from the perspective of reception theory. The artistic value of works is determined by the understanding of works and reader’s re-creation. As a representative figure of the imigists in the20th century, Ezra Pound(18851972) took endeavor to initiate a literary movement "Imagism". In1915, Pound’s creative translated works Cathay based on Chinese classical poems was regarded as a representative works of imigism. Studies on the works have yielded fruitful results, but reception study in his poetry is rarely involved. Western scholars mainly discuss it as imagist poetry, while Chinese scholars discuss its misinterpretation of his poetry. Moreover, studies on recreation of the works discussed by some scholars still stay at translated level, yet it has not been upgraded to literary reception level. Starting with the study of purpose of comparative literature, this thesis takes this works as a case study, based on the reception theory, makes an analysis of Pound’s understanding and accepting Chinese classical poems. The thesis also, casting its research into receptor and interpreting literary characteristics of Cathay, aims to analyze its recreation characteristics embodied in the process of reading and accepting. Conversely, a literary significance is clearly observed by means of the joint efforts of reader, translator and creator based on the reception theory. The discussion of those issues has important theoretical and practical values on expanding the vision of literature studies and improving the understanding of literature principles. At the same time it offers a new perspective to study of Pound’s works, also provides a new approach to literary translation study, which has significant value for promoting the development of comparative literature.Introduction part of this paper mainly describes the background, research methods of this paper. To begin with, this thesis has a brief introduction to Pound’s literary thoughts and literary background of Cathay. Apart from it, then it comes to Pound’s reading and accepting Chinese classical poetry as a reader(receptor). This paper makes an analysis of Pound’s motivation of translating the Chinese classical poems. In the second part, the thesis lays emphasis on the analysis of Pound’s translation practice in his recreation in terms of subject, image, and method of poetry in Cathay as a translator(creator) by taking Cathay as its object of study. In the third part, the thesis introduces the reception aesthesis and concerns much about acceptance theory and horizon of expectation. Apart from it, the thesis probes into Pound’s reception purpose and his reception and literature dialogue with Chinese classical poetry. Finally, the thesis proceeds its recreation from the view of Cathay’s readers(receptors) and reception contexts. The conclusion briefly discusses theoretical and practical value of this study, and it concludes the main conclusions of this paper and also points out the inadequacy as well as future study direction.