2.2 Paradox of translation—translatability and untranslatability 4

2.3 Zanghua Yin and Two English Versions 6

2.3.1 Zanghua Yin by Cao Xueqin 6

2.3.2 Two English Versions by Yang Xianyi and Hawkes 7

3. Comparative Study of Rhetorical Style of Two English Versions 8

3.1 Appreciation of the Original Poem 8

3.2 Semantic Rhetoric 8

3.2.1 Metaphor 8

3.2.2 Metonymy 9

3.2.3 Personification 10

3.2.4 Euphemism 11

3.2.5 Pun 12

3.2.6 Allusion 12

3.3 Structural Rhetoric 13

3.3.1 Antithesis 13

3.3.2 Repetition 14

3.3.3 Catchword Repetition 15

3.4 Phonological Rhetorical device 16

3.4.1 Rhyme 16

4. Conclusion 17

4.1 Limitations of Poetry Translation and Some Compensation Strategies 17

References 19

1. Introduction

Chinese poetry has a long history original from Pre-qin literature. The Book of Songs is the first poetry in Chinese history. Chinese classical poetry is a treasure of Chinese culture. Poetry is the most classical form of literature though out the whole period of Chinese history. After thousands of years of time, Chinese classical poetry has developed various forms and themes and in every period in the history, there are always a lot of poets put a new life in poetry in that time so that it can be unfailing and has great place in the ocean of literature. Moreover, for readers, Chinese poetry is a heart feast. They can touch the deep feeling of the poet, talking with him he her, get happiness, sadness, peace, pan and any taste in the society, enjoy the musical rhythm, which is actually a life traveling in the world of poetry. 

It is an influential way of spreading Chinese culture, spirit throughout thousands of years by translating Chinese classical poetry. The first translation version of Chinese literature is the translation of poetry. Over years, there are a increasing number of poetry being translated into other languages, especially into English. Then a lot of wonderful translations and relevant strategies appear. There are a great number of elements in creating poetry, such as expression forms, selected words, expression technique, structure, rhetorical devices and so on. All of these need to be concerned in rending a poem, especially the rendering of rhetorical devices, which is concerned with the feeling and appreciation of readers to this translation of poetry. 

Poetry is an important means to promote the development of the plot and enrich the characters in the novel, especially in Ming and Qing dynasty. There are lots of poems in Hong Lou Meng that is the greatest Chinese classical novel with high ideological level and artistry and still widely popular in China now. Written in Qing dynasty (in the mid-eighteen century), the novel is concerned with ancient Chinese bureaucratic system, feudal aristocracy and family, feudalism and the related ruling philosophies. The novel provides hundreds of the lives of people on various levels, which shows the critical attitude of the author toward the society at that time and the crystallization of three-thousand-year Chinese culture.