Translation As Rewriting

In the rewriting theory proposed by AndréLefevere, translation is taken as a major form of rewriting of the original. All forms of rewriting are manipulated by certain ideology and poetics of certain period and society and these rewritings reflect and serve the ideology and poetics in one way or another. Rewriting, translation in particular, can introduce new concept, new theme and new genre and play an important role in the fight between opposite ideology and poetics.In this thesis, the author investigates the political, philosophical, and literary background of Ezra Pound's translation anthology of Cathay, analyzes the patrons of Pound, makes a comparison of the original Chinese poems, the translated version in Cathay and the notes of Fenollosa and points out that Cathay is a rewriting under the manipulation of ideology, poetics and patronage. The influences of all kinds of elements in Pound's era are reflected in the selection of translation materials for Cathay, the choice of the name of the collection and the translation of the poems. And Cathay, which was produced under such manipulated factors, has played an important role in American and English literature.All in all, a study of Pound's Cathay within the frame of Lefevere's rewriting theory will help us to conduct a more objective and comprehensive evaluation on Pound's translation and the challenge of Cathay's success to the traditional translation theory.