As a classist I think all of the translations are fine, you just have to ask what exactly the author is going for and whether that appeals to you.Emily Wilson's translation is generally a lot more straightforward in its language, it tends to be very direct and use modern prose. That's appealing to some people—it's accessible, it feels quicker and more exciting to read (especially in books 9-12 and 18-22 where there is a lot of drama). It also keeps to the structure of Homer's lines much more closely.Fagles and Fitzgerald walk a more poetic path, using more more flowery language in their translations. They seek to capture some of the deeper layers of meaning which the original Greek can have, as well as carry a sense of rhythm in their words. Their language is a little more baroque, but the deeper description is great for making even more mundane passages feel lush with meaning.Lawrence is the most poetic of them all, and is hardly even a translation so much as it is an adaptation. He adds an awful lot in there to make the lines feel right from an English poetry perspective, and can at times put a lot more weight on certain lines than Homer originally gave them, because he as the adaptor feels that these moments are important. Alexander Pope's translation is very similar in this regard. Both are excellent reads if you want some good English poetry, but do a poor job of actually rendering Homer's words.However In my view, Wilson's translation best renders into English how Homer was initially intended. It is normally simple and direct, with a lot of the poetry coming from things like the etymological depth of certain words. She never dwells too long on any one topic, but maintains a swift and exciting pace. I like it. I like the others as well, obviously, but I like Wilson's the most. Now of course I prefer the original greek, but Im proud that Wilson is my professor.
>wilson ragebait thread #261718Nobody is reading wilson’s translation. Saged.
>>25403670>As a classisti see
>>25403670I thought all it took to be classist was to hate the poor. I guess I'll have to start reading.
>>25403670I didn't read her Odyssey, but I did read her Iliad and I thought it was pretty good. There were a couple of parts that I had to force myself through because the writing felt dull, but it had been so long since I had read another translation that I'm not sure if that was the fault of Wilson or Homer. Overall though I really enjoyed it, so much so that I picked up a copy of her Odyssey (which again I haven't read yet, but I think it's the more controversial of the two books).I've read The Odyssey in Fagles and Fitzgerald. I like Fitzgerald better of the two. I keep hearing people say Fagles is more poetic (or "baroque" I suppose) but I've never felt this myself. Fagles seems to me very straightforward and modern. Too modern in some cases. I get a pretty down to Earth feeling reading Fagles, but some word choices really take me out of the experience. I wish I could give examples, but I've lent my copy to a friend who wanted to read it in anticipation for the movie. His was the first translation I read, and I do really enjoy it.Overall Fagles doesn't feel *too* different from Wilson to me, and I would put them both in the same sort of category, and probably recommend either to a first time reader. I've heard Lombardo is in that category too.
>>25403760This is a paid shill.
>>25403670Now this isn’t a full critique of Wilson but I read the first page of Lattimore, Fagles, and Wilson and some differences between them stood out to me. For example, you have “man of many ways”, “man of twists and turns” and “complicated man”, and “sacred citadel”, “hallowed heights”, and “holy town”. Of these two examples it seems clear to me in each which has the worse translation, at least in terms of the poetic effect. I don’t know Greek so I can’t speak on the fidelity to the original.>inb4 “complicated” actually has complex etymological roots that mirror the GreekI don’t think that the etymology of a word is the best way of analyzing its use and effect in poetry
>>25403670>However In my view, Wilson's translation best renders into English how Homer was initially intendeddefend Wilson electing to have the suitors call Odysseus a 'migrant' as an insult during the bow-stringing scene
>>25403670>Wilson's translation best renders into English how Homer was initially intendedWilson's translation is outright feminist propaganda, and she doesn't even try to hide it.>Lawrence is the most poetic of them allIt's literally prose FFS.You don't even Chapman. Get off my board, pleb.
>>25403872*You don't even mention ChapmanI accidentally the "mention."
>>25403670ps2 rock band guitar hero algorithm
>>25403670Exactly, eating shit is fine if you like eating shit, hanging yourself is fine if you like hanging yourself and so on.
>>25403670I know this is LLM slop. However...Calling Odysseus a "complicated" man is simply incorrect and telling of the quality of Wilson's whole translation. In 2026 a "complicated man" implies a degree of sophistication, but also a degree of anxiety and possibly ineffectiveness. Essentially an unwillingness or inability to conform to certain mainstream ideals. The original Greek word "πολύτροπος" (many paths) does not imply all of that. It's simply not an appropriate translation. Pic related: various more appropriate translations.
>>25403670>it tends to be very direct and use modern proseGOOD MORNING SAAR!
>>25403670>translation is generally a lot more straightforward in its language, it tends to be very direct and use modern prose. That's appealing to some people—it's accessible, it feels quicker and more exciting to readI actually read emilys translation up to book 7 and then gave up to restart doing lattimore and fagles because wilsons translation is so lifeless and stale
zoomer edition when?i need that 6 7 dark sea
>>25404754Gm brother
Lattimore>at this time, pallas athene made her way into wide-spaced Lakedaimon, to remind the shining son of great-gearted Odyssues of his journey home
Wilson>Athena went to Sparta to ensure the safe return of Prince Telemachus
Fagles for comparison
Have not read Wilson's translation and don't care to. That said, can someone let me know how she handled the fate of the Phaeacians? Did she decide that Poseidon got his way and buried them under a mountain, or leave it with only their ship being turned to stone in their harbor on its return from dropping off Odysseyus?
Chapman rocks though
Chapman and Pope
Fitzgerald
Lattimore and Fagles
Murray's prose translation.
Tyrone Deshawn.
>>25404852Tyrone's unironically better than Wilson's, and has some nice rhythm and alitteration going: clappin' da cracka crib of Troy is legitimately good.
>>25403670i am simply not going to get outraged about a bad translation when there are no IP laws encumbering the original work to make it the only legal translation.wilson tried something different and it mostly didn't work that well (though I think people overstate how bad it is, mostly because "complicated man" is smug dogshit and it's the first thing everyone sees). people are allowed to screw up, it's fine. all the other translations are still there.
>>25403670I don't remember asking. Gtfo college cuck.
>>25403670This is literally copy-pasted from reddit.
Read the pope versions
>>25403814“Complicated man” is just about the most uninspired phrasing possible. I don’t care how accurate it is if it makes my English ears bleed.
>>25404500hehe fagles hehe
Quit bumping this thread faggots
>>25404924i thought you put sage in the email field
>>25404939it does, but some people put it in the name field as well as a way of skirting the rule against announcing sages, which is something i'd never do.
