Abstract Journey to The West and The Pilgrim’s Progress are regarded as the significant works of religious literature which have been translated into more than 200 languages, and have never been out of print. Although they were written in different ages with varied culture and religious background, Journey to The West bears the striking similarity with The Pilgrim’s Progress. They both depict the protagonist’s spiritual redemption through their strong willpower and unremitting efforts during their way to heaven. The two writers, Wu Cheng’en and John Bunyan, both believe that the way to heaven is filled with countless seductions and hardship experiences. Thus, people have to endure all those tests and remove the obstacles so that they can achieve the spiritual insight.
The thesis devotes to demonstrate the similarities of human culture reflected from the two novels and endeavors to unveil the ultimate concern in human culture. The thesis adopts a viewpoint of comparative literature, provides a fully comprehensive study of the above-mentioned two religious novels and in a way, has expanded the space for thinking. The thesis mainly analyzes the two novels from three aspects: religious and cultural themes, critical spirit and social significance and symbolism in names of persons and places. In a sense, this critical exploration not only helps to understand the differences in mode of thinking between the Chinese people and western people but also enhances our cooperation and communication with each other.
Key Words: Journey to the West, The Pilgrim’s Progress, comparison, justice, cultural theme
摘要世界名著《西游记》和《天路历程》均属于宗教文学并被翻译为200多种语言，至今在世界上广为发行。文字语言是人类文化和历史的结晶，凝聚着一个民族的社会意识，历史文化，风俗文化等多方面的人类社会特征。虽然两部作品写于不同的时代，民族和不同的宗教背景，但两部巨著却有着惊人的相似之处。吴承恩和班扬均描述了主人公在游历冒险过程中通过不懈的努力和坚强的意志获得精神的救赎。作者都认为通往天国的道路是充满诱惑和困苦的，人必须历经考验并克服各种障碍才能获得顿悟。
本篇论文专注于分析对比两部著名宗教作品的异同并揭示中西方文化差异的根源及揭示人类对其的认知。本篇论文从比较文学的角度全面分析了两部著作。主要从三个方面来分析这两部小说:宗教与文化的主题特色,两部小说所带来的批判精神和社会影响力以及人名与地名所蕴含的象征意义。本研究旨在帮助理解东方人与西方人在思文模式上的不同，更进一步增加我们文化上的的互动交流。关键词：《西游记》，《天路历程》，比较，正义，文化主题7114
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements i
Abstract ii
摘要.iii
1 Introduction. 1
2 Religious and Cultural Themes 5
2.1 Religious and Cultural Themes of The Pilgrim’s Progress 5
2.2 Religious and Cultural Themes of A Journey to the West. 8
2.3 Differences between the Religious and Cultural Themes of the Two Novels.10
3 Critical Spirit and Social Significance. 13
3.1 Exposure of Social Realities. 13
3.2 Justice and Injustice. 14
3.3 The Protagonists’ high morality 16
4 Symbolism in Names of Persons and Places.18
4.1 Symbolism in Names of Persons in the Two Novels.18
4.2 Symbolism in Names of Places in the Two Novels.19
4.3 Difference between Symbolism in Names of Persons and Places in the Two Novels.20
5 Conclusions 21
Bibliography. 23
1 Introduction
The Pilgrim’s Progress is written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. As a Christian allegory, this novel is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, and has been translated into over 200 languages. Besides, it has never been out of print. 英语论文《西游记》与《天路历程》比较:http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_4901.html