A tradução dos elementos maravilhosos, mitológicos e simbólicos no romance The lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe de C.S. Lewis

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the translation of the marvelous, mythological, and symbolic elements present in the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis (2000), translated into Portuguese by Ronald Kyrmse in 2023. The study is justified by the lack of translation studies that examine the work from the perspective of Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS), considering its children’s and young adult literary character and the relationship between the marvelous, mythology, and symbolism from a translational standpoint. The main objectives are to investigate how these elements were transferred from the source language into Portuguese. Additionally, the research aims to understand how this translation operates between distinct literary systems and to identify the technical procedures employed by the translator. Therefore, the study discusses the theoretical foundations of children’s and young adult literature and of the uncanny, explores the life of C. S. Lewis, and addresses theories related to Descriptive Translation Studies. These theoretical foundations enable a better understanding of Kyrmse’s choices in this recent translation. Methodologically, this is a qualitative and bibliographical study, based on a comparative analysis between the source text and the target text, supported by scholars such as Susan Bassnett (2005), José Lambert (2011), Itamar Even-Zohar (2013), Gideon Toury (2012), Lanzetti et al. (2009), and Barbosa (2020). The dissertation begins with a historical overview of English young adult literature and of theories of the uncanny, emphasizing the predominance of the marvelous in The Chronicles of Narnia (1950). It then examines the literary background of C. S. Lewis, his academic, personal, and religious trajectory, relating these dimensions to his creation of the universe of Narnia, highlighting the symbolism and mythology present in the work. Prior to the analysis, the study describes theoretical frameworks that compose Descriptive Translation Studies, such as polysystems theory as well as theories of norms and descriptive translation procedures. Following this approach, the investigation identifies the coexistence of strategies that demonstrate a balance between what is “acceptable” and what is “adequate” for the contemporary Brazilian reader. It concludes that Kyrmse’s translation seeks to preserve the marvelous, formal, and archaic character of the original narrative, respecting its essence while simultaneously adapting linguistic and cultural aspects for the present-day reader. This research contributes to the field of Translation Studies by offering a descriptive and analytical reading of literary translation within children’s and young adult literature of the marvelous genre, expanding discussions on the role of the translator in building cultural bridges between distinct literary systems.