ABSTRACT

Li Qingzhao, noted as “the most outstanding Ci poetess in the Song Dynasty”, possesses extraordinary talents and high attainments. Ru Meng Ling, one of her early works, is an immortal masterpiece which depicts a melancholy young woman regretting the spring slipping away and faded flowers. In spite of the plain and vulgar spoken language and short length, the poem is suffused with a great deal of astonishing subtlety and refinement, implying rich contents with profound and lasting aroma in a graceful and exquisite way. This thesis is a tentative study on extent of realization of aroma in Chinese-English translation of Ru Meng Ling.

From aspects of musicality, form, imagery and ideorealm, this thesis analyzes presentation of aroma on the basis of the all-round introduction of the original Chinese version of Ru Meng Ling. Difficulties of Chinese-English translation in which realization of aroma is highly demanded are discussed in detail as well. The thesis also evaluates extent of realization of aroma in English versions by Xu Yuanchong, Eugene Eoyang and Kenneth Rexroth respectively, who are separately representatives of domestic translators, ethnic Chinese scholars and foreign translators.

Keywords：Ru Meng Ling; extent of realization of aroma; Xu Yuanchong; Eugene Eoyang; Kenneth Rexroth

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-2

Chapter Three REALIZATION OF AROMA IN RU MENG LING-4

3.1 Musicality Beauty-4

3.2 Form Beauty-5

3.3 Imagery Beauty-6

3.4 Ideorealm Beauty-6

Chapter Four DIFFICULTIES OF CHINESE-ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF RU MENG LING-8

4.1 Associability of Words-8

4.2 Cultural Words-8

4.3 Reproduction of Tones and Emotions-9

Chapter Five ANALYSIS ON EXTENT OF REALIZATION OF AROMA IN THREE VERSIONS-10

5.1 Version by Xu Yuanchong-10

5.2 Version by Eugene Eoyang-12

5.3 Version by Kenneth Rexroth-13

Chapter Six CONCLUSION-16

Works Cited-17