Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.2, 2023

Poetry and Poets in the Chinese and English Poetic Traditions

(Abstract)

Wu Fusheng

Both China and Britain have time-honored tradition of poetry, at the same time, differences certainly exist between them.The concept of poetry and poet in the Chinese poetic tradition has been already formed, and has always maintained a fairly stable continuity. On the contrary, this is not the case with the English poetry tradition. Its understanding of poetry and poets varies greatly in different historical periods. The later period often is not an inheritance of the earlier period, but a revision or even rebellion. In the Chinese poetic tradition, the authority and status of poetry have never been questioned, while, in the British poetic tradition, poetry is constantly facing various doubts and attacks.