“The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson vs. its russian translation: rhythmical structure and didactic message

Abstract

“The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson gained enormous popularity worldwide, including Russia. Its Russian translation by Marina Boroditskaya is interesting in terms of its versification. The meter of the translation is not structurally equivalent to that of the English original, however it may be considered as its functional equivalent within the Russian poetic tradition. The alteration of rhythmical variations of the meter follows that of the original and thus conforms to the logic of the narrative. However, the Russian text is structurally more complicated and sophisticated in terms of its rhythm, grammar, and vocabulary. These structural differences cause respective shifts in the meaning and the message.

Keywords: Poetry, poetic translation, functional (dynamic) and formal equivalency, versification, verse, rhythm, rhyme, Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, rhythmical composition, tale, children’s poetry, children’s literature