On Translating Homer - Again

Caroline Alexander
Independent Scholar

NYU Department of Classics
Silver Center for Arts and Science, Room 503
32 Waverly Place or 31 Washington Place (wheelchair access)

In a series of now classic lectures, the nineteenth century critic and poet Matthew Arnold famously analyzed the Homeric poems with a view to clarifying the essential characteristics that a translation should honor; and while no translator would regard these as creating a blueprint, most translators make some reference to them. At the least, the “Arnoldian canon” provides a useful framework in which to discuss the criteria of a good translation and to address core questions: Must a good translation be faithful to the original text? Is there such a thing as a faithful translation? Do criteria remain the same through different eras? I discuss the decisions that inform my translations of both the Iliad and my forthcoming translation of the Odyssey.

For more information, contact Evan Wontor Shaal: eaw9144@nyu.edu or Kimiko Adler: kja326@nyu.edu