Fostering Creativity Through Difficulties of Poetry Translation

Abstract

Poetry translation is generally seen as a highly demanding task and literary translation scholars have repeatedly highlighted its difficulties to the extent that some believe in its impossibility. The present study attempts to illustrate that these difficulties are unduly exaggerated and the constraints imposed by such difficulties are tightly tied to creativity. In fact, the constraints provide a fertile ground for creativity to thrive. Then different student translations of one of Shakespeare's sonnets are presented as an evidence of how challenges posed by translation can result in creative solutions. At the end, some suggestions are given on how literary translation courses can foster creativity.