重解不朽的“传统”——论T.S.艾略特的《传统与个人才能》

The Reinterpretation of the Immortal Traditions ——on Eliot's Tradition and the Individual Talent

现代英语写作在不知不觉中把"传统"贬到了考古学的词汇堆里,"传统"一词近乎等同于无独创性或死气沉沉。为了证明自我才能,现代的人们都急切地要与传统划清界线,挣脱传统的束缚。事实上,人们不可能完全脱离传统。一切所谓破除传统的独创,都是后来人们站在新的高度、用新的眼光对原有传统作出的新阐释和新选择,而新创作出来的作品也必定受到原有传统的影响以及暗中制约。以"传统"观为核心内涵的艾略特诗学所进行的就是这样一种归附传统、发掘传统的思考及探索,他以《传统与个人才能》一文作为其诗学的宣言书,开始了曲折而艰辛的回归传统之旅。

Modern English writing unconsciously degrades ＂Tradition＂ into the vocabulary of archeology.＂Tradition＂ almost equals to unoriginality and inanimateness.So to proof their own talents,modern people are anxious to make a clear distinction with tradition to shake off the bondage of tradition.As a matter of fact,people can never completely divorce from tradition.All the so-called originality breaking tradition turns out to be the new interpretation and choice from higher level and new perspective.Newly created works is bound to be influenced and constrained potentially by tradition.Eliot＇s poetics regarding ＂tradition＂ as the nuclear inner part is such thoughts and search as attaching to tradition and digging deep into tradition.Ever since the publication of Tradition and the Individual Talent as the manifesto of his poetics,he began his twisting and tough journey returning to the tradition.