Abstract

Biancheng takes up an extremely significant position among Shen Congwen’s works. As the representative novella of Shen Congwen, Biancheng is regarded as the most pure work in Chinese modern literature, which has achieved much appreciation both home and abroad. The novella compliments the kindness of human beings, the purity of their soul together with the beauty of landscapes in the background of the border town, Chadong, located in a crossing of Xiangxi.

This thesis focuses on the natural images in Biancheng and aims to make a comparison between Gladys Yang’s and Jeffery C. Kinkley’s versions, so as to analyze the factors influencing the differences of translation. It is found that western background of Gladys Yang and Jeffery C. Kinkley, Gladys Yang’s experiences in China, the popularity of Shen Congwen’s works and the increasing interest in Chinese culture from foreigners are some of the causes. Finally, the author concludes that no matter what factors, subjective or objective, such as Chinese and western cultural differences, historical factors and background information, the crucial aim is to attract readers’ attention so as to spread Xiangxi and Miao culture.

Key Words: Biancheng     natural images     translation 

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Information about Shen Congwen and Biancheng-1

1.2 Brief Introduction to Different Translation Versions of Biancheng-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 The Current Situation of the Research-3

2.2 The Significance and Purpose of the Research-3

Chapter Three Methodology-5

3.1 Data Collection-5

3.2 Similar Translation-5

3.3 Different Translation-6

Chapter Four Findings and Discusson-7

4.1 The Findings of the Research-7

4.2 The Discussion of the Findings-7

4.2.1 Text Analysis-7

4.2.2 Subjective and Objective Factors-14

Chapter Five Conclusion-16

5.1 The Conclusion of the Thesis-16

5.2 Limitations of the Study-16

5.3 Suggestions for Future Research-16

References-17