Abstract: In light of Windowing of Attention Theory proposed by Talmy, this paper analyzes five types of Windowing of Attention rooted in the metaphorical representations in Mo Yan's novel Ballads and its English version by Ge Haowen. By exploring the mechanism of window opening and closing with respect to readers' attention distribution, the paper shows how metaphors effectively convey characters' intention. This paper also discusses the creative cultural values embedded in the two versions of metaphors concerning the social context. The findings will shed some light on the translation of Chinese novels, provide valuable guidelines for teaching practices, and ultimately help promote the publicity of Chinese literary works in the English-speaking world.