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October 19, 2023 | 1 comment
Ask students: What inspired Wilson to choose iambic pentameter as the poetic form for her translation of "The Iliad"? When did Wilson's translation of "The Iliad" get published?
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"The Iliad" is one of the foundational works of Western literature and thought. It’s an old story that continues to resonate in our time and has been given new life in a translation by distinguished classical scholar Emily Wilson.
For a transcript, click here.
Why do you think classic works might benefit from new translations? What might it add to a work to connect to it through contemporary language?
Media literacy: "Jeffrey Brown: English translators — there have been more than 100 of them over 400 years — have used a wide variety of approaches and poetic styles." In fact, the NewsHour produced a piece in 2015 on another translation here.
Discuss with a friend, neighbor or classmate — what unique approach did Emily Wilson take in her translation of "The Iliad"?
Also, check out this Student Reporting Labs video which discusses how poetry helps human expression:
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
I admire Emily Wilson for creating an old story that she translated into our time; her idea is great. I wonder, when did Wilson publish it?
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