Compare and Contrast Essay on Translation of the Opening Lines of the Odyssey

Introduction

In the beginning, Zeus commonly known as the Greek god, even though do not appear in the entire epic poem tends to play a major role as witnessed in several instances and contexts within the poem (Poyatos, 233). Notably, as the events unfold in the beginning, the goddess of Athena is seen appealing to Zeus to help Odysseus, a Trojan war hero who is stranded for the last seven years away from home in Ithaca. Following this struggle in the epic poem, the Athena's seem to take positive interventions to engage in the battle to help save Odysseus. It is witnessed that, the Athena then assisted Odysseus and Telemachus with the needed divine powers as seen in some instances in the entire poem. On the same account, the Athena seems to take up the sole responsibilities to speak up for Odysseus on the Mount Olympus. Similarly, she tends to appear in disguise just as a mentor and more importantly as an old friend of Odysseus (Poyatos, 233) (Poyatos, 233).

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It is worth acknowledging the fact that, the manner in which this poem has been translated reveal a wider margin of disparity in the mood, how characters are portrayed and the emphasis placed on the passages due to the choices of words used by the translators. Significantly, according to Odyssey which has been widely translated shows a variation in the way women are portrayed in the entire poem. According to Emily Wilsons translation, being a woman, the choice of words used are clear with the aim of making the reader understand the intrigues hidden the archaic older son. But as for Robert, the decisions of words tend to lean on the western imagination with no intention of shedding more light to the modern reader.

Odyssey is an ancient Greek poem which has undergone a series of translation by different authors making the translated version different from the original one. It is imperative to note that, as the translation keeps shifting from one author to another, a particular element of this literary material such as the mood, tone, how the characters are portrayed varies depending on the diction employed by the author. Significantly, this paper intends to explore the differences that might exist between the translated version odyssey as represented by Emily Wilson and Robert Fagles

A close analysis at the start of the epic poem is a clear indication of an entirely different poem as compared to the original version. The modern translation tends to adopt more elaborate writing techniques that tend to embrace some of the modern techniques such as diction as well as foreshadowing to help create a clear understanding of the poem sincerely from the original point of view. Notably, it evidenced in a different context within the poem where at the beginning of certain paragraphs the choices words used by Emily Wilson and Robert Fagles appears different thus resulting into different meaning while analyzing the entire text. It is essential to understand the general analogy that creates the disparity and the peculiarity seen in different versions of the epic poem by a different translator. Notably, the choices of words used while translating the original text of the poem odyssey are distorted resulting in a complete change mood, the tone, the character placements along with alteration of the whole passage.

In the comparison of the two versions, it is clearly indicated that Wilson seems to be quite ambitions in the choice of words used during the translation as a way of braking the poem into digestible components by the reader. Notably, Wilson's version tends to provide immediacy and clarity in blowing away the pseudo-archaisms which dominated the poem in its original texts. The version clears the sky to portray the magnitude of suffering odyssey endured till the end. This is clearly witnessed in the manner in which she translated most of the paragraphs in the entire poem. On the other hand, Roberts translation is pegged on pure imagination n gripping on the western cultures as the men who traveled rather the women who waited have become the center stage inn his translation.

Odyssey as Translated by Emily Wilson

To begin with, following the in-depth analysis of the of the translated version of the Odyssey by Emily Wilson which is granted the modern poetry is seen to have taught a lot of literary prospects in a bid to make the poem more appealing to the reader (Fiske, 13 ). As the poem begins according to the translated version by Wilson, it is clearly indicate that the author authoritatively altered the choice of words which in the long run sets the readers into a clear understanding of literary material. It is worth acknowledging te absolute fact that, as the events in the poem unfold, Wilson begin the poem with cleanness and clarity "Tell me about a complicated man " (Fiske, 13). As it clearly evidence d in the first line the choice of words tends to depict slightly different voice in comparison to the original version. Notably, the decision to use such appealing words has been vastly reviewed recommended to be a great improvement from the original version was written using the old traditions of bardic poetry which seem challenging to most of the readers. On the same account, since the actual language used a hodgepodge of dialect and the vocabularies that were archaic even at the time the poem was written down. Significantly, Wilson chose to employ foregrounding as a literary technique and other related qualities to bring into a clear understanding of the improved version of the written initially epic poem. The vigor, as well as the urgency as portrayed in the original version, is completely distorted and the version is granted appealing to the reader is also more sensible when literary analyzed (Fiske, 13 ).

Conversely, sometimes the reader's id forced to refer from the original version as witnessed when considering a scenario where Odysseus's son Telemachus offered "canapes", and Odysseus himself, when disguised as an old homeless man, carrying a "tote bag" which does not match the original version of the Odyssey epic poem. It is worth acknowledging the absolute fact that, the choice of words used in the modern translation as depicted by Emily Wilson seem authoritative and the intervention has greatly improved the readers understanding and the general analysis of the text. However, the elements that have since then changed with regards to the modern translation include

Mood

Following the in-depth analysis of the translated version of Odyssey, sets out another different mood which is more appealing to the reader to help them understand deeply the intended information lacking in the original version. Since the concept of translation has greatly been embraced. Wilsons work is often used as a point of reference by several authors. The general mood as depicted from the original based on the choices of words used reveals indicate a repelling mood which keeps the reader at bay while going through the entire poem. The translated version, as commonly referred much tuning tends to salivate the reader by bringing into context the hidden elements as witnessed in the original and other translated versions. Notably, the choices of words as used in the translated version makes the reader keep wondering on the cunning and duplicity based on the tragic events unfolding in the entire epic poem. Tentatively, the somber mood and general sad feeling which originally portrayed have been converted into a more appealing feel to the reader.

Similarly, based on the things that happen to him on the way to Ithaca which was complicated to understand has been made easier and simple to understand based on the choices if words used by Wilson as indicated in the translated versions. The Latin words originally used tend to complicate the general understanding thereby altering the mood of the epic poem. It is imperative to note that, diction as a poetic device tends to alter the public mood which is fully embraced by Wilson in the translation. Ideally, in the original version, "Complicated" comes from the Latin verb plico, which means to fold was vastly used whose meaning to advice or to contrive, but In the modern translation, it is used to form the plot of the tragedy. Significantly, the word complicated as vastly used in the in the translated version by Wilson is meant to show that the twists and turns which encompasses every event in the epic poem. Based on the in-depth analysis of the translated version of Odyssey by Wilson is constantly alert to the cost of Odysseus's homecoming more as compared to the other translated versions by related authors. It is clearly indicated that he slaughters his wife's suitors and a dozen female slaves in a bid fully regain his properties and status. And as translated by Wilson he is the only man of his fleet to reach Ithaca alive. "He failed to keep them safe," this is completely different from the Robert Fagles' version for Penguin "He could not save them from disaster," creating another set of mood based on the choices of words used. Even though it is presumed that the male translation may have a habit in the choice of words used, Wilson perhaps is quite conscious and is said to be more attentive to poems fondness and complexity. The foregrounding as the strategy employed by Wilson has provided a complete shift in the general understanding of the mood and feeling in the entire epic poem.

Overall Sense and Character Analysis

The poem contains foundational moments of misogyny which Wilson doesn't soften but rather tends to be productive and flexible enough to contain the female characters. Significantly, the commonly known Helen of Troy, after returning to his husbands' palace becomes Helen of Sparta. She only enters the poem at the point where the husband Menelaus has tactlessly made a visitor - young Telemachus - weeps "Shall I conceal my thoughts or speak?" she says. On the same account by considering the translated version by Fagles, this last line in the poem is translated as shameless which is far much different from the original Greek version. There are several contexts where the words used are entirely different from the actual meaning and keep changing from one translator to another. Based on this analogy, there is the ultimate change in the general purpose as well as the passage structure which creates a different version as compared to the original version.

By considering the same passage, it is clearly evidenced that, the choice of words as used by both Wilson and Robert Fagles portrays a perfect distinction and the reader can easily identify whether the translator is male or female. As for Emily Wilson she employs foregrounding as a technique to help create the vivid picture and memory in the mind of the reader to be able to understand the plot.

Works cited

Fiske, Shanyn. "Between Nowhere and Home: The Odyssey of Lucy Snowe." Bronte Studies 32.1 (2007): 11-20.

Poyatos, Fernando. "Nonverbal Communication as a course in classical and Modern Philology programs/La Communications No Verbal como signature en Filologias Clasicas y Modernas/La communication nonverbal comme matiere dans les Philologies modernes our classiques." Didactica (Lengua y Literature) 25 (2013): 231-258.