On Translating Homer, published in January 1861, was a printed version of the series of public lectures given by Matthew Arnold as Professor of Poetry at Oxford from 3 November 1860 to 18 December 1860.
Caricature from Punch, 1881: "Admit that Homer sometimes nods, That poets do write trash, Our Bard has written "Balder Dead," And also Balder-dash"
Arnold's purpose was to discuss how his principles of literary criticism applied to the two Homericepics and to the translation of a classical text. He comments with disapproval on John Ruskin's 1860 review article "The English translators of Homer" in the National Review. He gives much space to comparing and criticizing already-published translations of the epics, notably
He adds polite comments on William Maginn's Homeric Ballads (which first appeared in Fraser's Magazine, where Arnold intended to publish these lectures).
Arnold identifies four essential qualities of Homer the poet to which the translator must do justice:
that he is eminently rapid; that he is eminently plain and direct both in the evolution of his thought and in the expression of it, that is, both in his syntax and in his words; that he is eminently plain and direct in the substance of his thought, that is, in his matter and ideas; and, finally, that he is eminently noble
After a discussion of the meters employed by previous translators, and in other existing English narrative poetry, he argues the need for a translation of the Iliad in hexameters in a poetical dialect, like the original. He notes the German translations of the Iliad and Odyssey into hexameters by Johann Heinrich Voss. He quotes English hexameter translations of short Homeric passages by himself and by E. C. Hawtrey and also surveys original English hexameter poetry, including
Arnold reserved much space for the criticism of the recently published translation of the Iliad into a ballad-like metre by F. W. Newman. Newman took offence at Arnold's public criticism of his translation, and published a reply, Homeric Translation in Theory and Practice. To this Arnold in turn responded, with a last lecture, given at Oxford on 30 November 1861, afterwards separately published in March 1862 under the title On Translating Homer: last words.
Bibliography
Matthew Arnold, On the classical tradition ed. R. H. Super. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1960. [Text with commentary.]
F. W. Newman, Homeric Translation in Theory and Practice: a reply to Matthew Arnold, Esq. London, 1861. ()
Ichabod Charles Wright, A Letter to the Dean of Canterbury on the Homeric Lectures of Matthew Arnold. London, 1864.
External links
, e-text (PDF) from victorianprose.org
On Translating Homer: Last Words (PDF)
January 07, 2023
translating, homer, published, january, 1861, printed, version, series, public, lectures, given, matthew, arnold, professor, poetry, oxford, from, november, 1860, december, 1860, caricature, from, punch, 1881, admit, that, homer, sometimes, nods, that, poets, . On Translating Homer published in January 1861 was a printed version of the series of public lectures given by Matthew Arnold as Professor of Poetry at Oxford from 3 November 1860 to 18 December 1860 Caricature from Punch 1881 Admit that Homer sometimes nods That poets do write trash Our Bard has written Balder Dead And also Balder dash Arnold s purpose was to discuss how his principles of literary criticism applied to the two Homeric epics and to the translation of a classical text He comments with disapproval on John Ruskin s 1860 review article The English translators of Homer in the National Review He gives much space to comparing and criticizing already published translations of the epics notably George Chapman s Odyssey Alexander Pope s Iliad William Cowper s Iliad Ichabod Charles Wright s Iliad vol 1 1859 vol 2 was to appear in 1865 Francis W Newman s Iliad 1856 He adds polite comments on William Maginn s Homeric Ballads which first appeared in Fraser s Magazine where Arnold intended to publish these lectures Arnold identifies four essential qualities of Homer the poet to which the translator must do justice that he is eminently rapid that he is eminently plain and direct both in the evolution of his thought and in the expression of it that is both in his syntax and in his words that he is eminently plain and direct in the substance of his thought that is in his matter and ideas and finally that he is eminently noble After a discussion of the meters employed by previous translators and in other existing English narrative poetry he argues the need for a translation of the Iliad in hexameters in a poetical dialect like the original He notes the German translations of the Iliad and Odyssey into hexameters by Johann Heinrich Voss He quotes English hexameter translations of short Homeric passages by himself and by E C Hawtrey and also surveys original English hexameter poetry including Arthur Hugh Clough The Bothie of Tober na Vuolich Henry Wadsworth Longfellow EvangelineArnold reserved much space for the criticism of the recently published translation of the Iliad into a ballad like metre by F W Newman Newman took offence at Arnold s public criticism of his translation and published a reply Homeric Translation in Theory and Practice To this Arnold in turn responded with a last lecture given at Oxford on 30 November 1861 afterwards separately published in March 1862 under the title On Translating Homer last words Bibliography EditMatthew Arnold On the classical tradition ed R H Super Ann Arbor University of Michigan Press 1960 Text with commentary F W Newman Homeric Translation in Theory and Practice a reply to Matthew Arnold Esq London 1861 e text from victorianprose org Ichabod Charles Wright A Letter to the Dean of Canterbury on the Homeric Lectures of Matthew Arnold London 1864 External links EditMatthew Arnold On Translating Homer e text PDF from victorianprose org On Translating Homer Last Words PDF Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title On Translating Homer amp oldid 1118112166, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
