POEMS ABOUT THE NORTH IN THE “SOUTHERN” LANGUAGE: THE EXPERIENCE OF TRANSLATING POEMS BY J. L. BORGES ABOUT ICELAND AND NORWAY

Abstract

The article provides an analysis of the images of the Scandinavian countries constructed in the poetry of J. L. Borges. The individual essential characteristics of Norway and Iceland are revealed, which are used by Borges to build a holistic image. A number of cases that are difficult for a translator are analyzed and possible translation solutions are proposed. In the course of the study, it turns out that the image of Iceland is the most complex and significant for Borges: constructing it, the poet uses both general cultural and personal associations. The key constructive elements, functional categories of the image of Iceland are timelessness, cumulativeness (Iceland as a “hollow of memory”, a universal library), isolation and circularity. Each category manifests itself at different levels, repeating itself in different texts and thus forming a single Icelandic hypertext in Borges’ poetry.