Translation of Literary Works and Formation of Translated Literature in Vietnamese Literature in the Early Twentieth Century

Abstract

In the context of cultural exchange between the East and the West in early twentieth century, both familiar Oriental literature and unknown Occidental one were introduced and left their mark on the Vietnamese literature. Thanks to translation activities, translated literature and the translation of literary works have made an important contribution to the birth of Vietnamese modern literature. While their role has been acknowledged, it is commonly been considered an external factor that affected Vietnamese literature. Referring to poly-system theory in cultural and literary studies, the paper examines translated literature in Vietnamese literary poly-system, analyzing how translated literature formed a literary category and consequently affected the process of modernizing Vietnamese literature in those years.