Written Translations. Homer's Odyssey
In the second half of the course, students will choose a short passage from any book of the Odyssey, and make two translations of the passage. The first translation will be literal, taking into account every point of grammar and syntax. The second translation will be 'artistic' or 'literary' and need not slavishly relate to the text. This is an opportunity to be creative, and get the 'spirit' of the passage across to the modern reader.
Find a passage (at least ten lines long), and make a literal translation of it. Type the translation and bring a copy for everyone, or give it to Dr. Levine a day ahead of time to copy. This translation should take account of every word, and translate in accordance with good grammar and syntax of both Greek and English.
Next, make that passage into a 'creative' or 'artistic' translation which will represent the passage in a memorable way. Do not just go through your literal translation and substitute words... Use your imagination and some poetic flair!
Here's a small example off the top of my head:
Iliad 9. 114-124
Literal:
And in turn lord of men Agamemnon addressed him (Nestor):
"Old man, not at all did you recount my blindness falsely;
I was blinded, and I myself do not deny it. Now against many
people is a man whom Zeus loves in his heart,
since now he honored this one, and he broke the army of the Achaians.
But since I was blinded trusting in my baneful heart,
I want to reconcile and to give boundless ransom.
And among all of you I name famous gifts,
seven unfired tripods, and ten talents of gold
and twenty shiny cauldrons, and twelve horses:
in good condition, prize-winners, who took prizes with their feet.
Artistic
(sort of in the style of e e cummings):
big king agamenon told old nestor
right you are gramps you hit the nail right on the proverbial head what was i thinking
of course i was a fool a loser man why didn't I see it
i really blew it and everybody knows what i've done
achilles hates me and has killed lots of us because
he got zeus on his side
man I wish zeus loved me as much as he loves that achilles
be that as it may i want to make things right i still can right
let's see i can get him to come back to the fighting if I offer him
a bunch of stuff everybody's got his price
these giant tripods should do the trick they're beauties
and the pots on them shiny and bright
does he want money
how about ten golden talents
that's a king's ransom in itself
and everybody likes horses
here's a dozen for achilles
i hope they win him prizes
like they did for me