ABSTRACT

In his novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald successfully represented the whole process of the disillusionment of American Dream in 1920s with rich and exquisite symbolism. In this masterpiece, the application of symbolic image included the descriptions of color, object, environment, and so on, which are of great importance and significance to the portrayal of the personalities of different characters and dissecting the emotions and destinies of them. How to deal with these symbolic images is a key issue to the successful translation of the novel. 

This study makes a comparative analysis on the translated version of The Great Gatsby respectively by Wu Ningkun and by Wang Jinhua. Focusing on the translation of symbolic image, this paper analyzes the difference and sameness between the two translations. Through the comparative analyses on Wu and Wang’s translations of symbolic image, this paper concludes that the cause for the difference in translation of symbolic image between the two translators can be ascribed to the subjective factors of the translators.

Keywords: Translation; Comparative Study; Symbolic Image; The Great Gatsby; Translator’s Subjectivity

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Introduction to Fitzgerald-1

1.2 The Great Gatsby and Symbolism-2

1.3 Different translated versions of The Great Gatsby in Chinese-3

1.4 Studies on the translation of The Great Gatsby, especially those on the translation of symbolic images-3

1.5 Objective of this paper-4

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-5

Chapter Three E-C TRANSLATIONN OF SYMBOLIC IMAGES -7

3.1 Definition of Symbolic Image-7

3.2 Translation of Symbolic Images-8

Chapter Four A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE TWO CHINESE VERSIONS OF THE GREAT GATSBY-10

4.1 Translation of Symbolic Images of The Great Gatsby by Wu Ningkun-10

4.2 Translation of Symbolic Images of The Great Gatsby by Wang Jinhua-11

4.3 Comparing the Translation of Symbolic Images in the Two Chinese Versions-12

4.3.1 Free Translation vs. Literal Translation-12

  4.3.2 Domestication vs. Foreignization-13

4.4 Summary-15

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-17

REEFRENCES-18