On the Intertextual Features of Chinese Poetry and American Poetry in the 1920s——Taking Hu Shih and Ezra Pound’s Poetic Experiences and Poetry as an Example

Abstract

To explore the intertextual features of Chinese poetry and American poetry in the 1920s, this paper involves Chinese Hu Shih and American Ezra Pound and their poetic experiences and poetry as an example, holding that (1) Both Chinese poetry and American poetry are ensconced in a dialogical relationship with their poets. On the one hand, Hu Shih made his dialogical relationship with his poetry through his early experiences, established knowledge and his speculations about Chinese and western cultures; On the other hand, Pound made his dialogical relationship with his poetry through his talent, the digestion of western cultures as well as the oriental cultures; (2) Both Chinese poetry and American poetry prove that tradition is no longer a shackle or chain. Hu Shih was an embodiment of Chinese traditions and he concerns both traditional Chinese poetics and philosophy while Pound is a typical American poet in the 1920s to integrate the traditional European and American poetic ideas into his modern poems. (3) Both Chinese poetry and American poetry predict that parody has become a recognized art. Hu Shih might have parodied western poetic theories, styles and language while Pound might have parodied Chinese poetic forms, images and philosophy. Briefly, intertextuality is a perspective to see the features of Chinese poetry and American poetry in the 1920s. Index Terms - Intertextuality, Chinese poetry, American poetry