Shakespeare’s and Milton’s Impact on Chinese Literature and Culture: A Preliminary Comparison

abstract:Both Shakespeare and Milton have had an important influence upon modern Chinese literature since the 1830s. Based on the rich sources recently accessible in Chinese and English databases, this article reconsiders the two writers’ impact on modern China, especially in the indigenization of the sonnet, the rise of huaju (spoken drama), and the Chinese adoption of the epic. In a sense, the two English literary masters have helped to shape modern China by participating actively in the decisive transformation of Chinese literature and culture.