The Iliad, a poem composed in the 8th century B.C.E. by the Greek poet, Homer, has been translated into English more often than almost any other literary work originally created  in another language. In the past ten years, there have been at least six published English-language translations of the Iliad. This raises an important question: why is there a need for different translations?

Since few people nowadays can read ancient Greek, the language in which the Iliad was originally created, translations are the only way in which this poem can be known. But there's unfortunately no simple way of translating ancient Greek words into their modern English equivalents. To illustrate how two translators -- both very knowledgeable in the ancient Greek language -- have attempted to do this, you'll see in the boxes below,  two different translations of the opening lines of the Iliad (Book I, lines 1-8). The first is by Robert Fagles and the second is by Richmond Lattimore. You'll see that although both versions use similar words, there are also some important differences. After you've read both versions, you'll find, at the bottom of this page, a simple exercise that will help you see these differences -- and, especially, why they're important.  

Rage -- Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus'  son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds, and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end.             -- Robert Fagles

Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus and its devastation, which put pains thousand-fold upon the     Achaians,     hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls  of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished....             -- Richmond Lattimore

EXERCISE A 

1. The most important difference between these two translations is that the first one, by Robert Fagles, begins with the words "Rage -- Sing, goddess, the rage" while Fitzgerald's  begins with "Sing, goddess, the anger." What difference does it make to begin the poem with the word sing rather than with rage?

2. Fagles' version uses the  word rage while Lattimore uses anger. The words rage and anger have the same basic meaning, but they're also slightly different. What's the main difference? And what other words could have been used  to describe the same feeling?  

If you're having difficulty thinking of words, you can go to a Thesaurus at this link:  <http://www.m-w.com/> 
 In the box that says Thesaurus, type the word anger and then click Search.
 For an excellent explanation of the differences between these words, and others with the same meaning,  go again to  <http://www.m-w.com/>  and type anger in the Dictionary (not Thesaurus) box. When you get to the anger  page, you'll first find the meanings for the verb form of anger.  You don't want this. Click on the box that says noun form and you'll find the explanation of the differences.

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Now please proceed to Page 2.

comments to:  vpoulakis@nvcc.edu

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03/28/05