John Dryden
“Translation - Theory and Practice: A Historical Reader”
by David Hopkins
Inês Ramos, 156291
Patrícia Martins, 156312
History and Theory of Translation
Table of contents
Brief Biography | Who was John Dryden? |
Prefaces and Dedication | What did he think about? |
Conclusion | What can we conclude? |
John Dryden
A poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright from the 17th century.
England’s first poet laureate.
Division
Section 2. Dryden on Translation
Section 1. Introduction
Section 3. Dryden the Translator
Introduction
01
02
Authors
Most of his translations were from Classical poets and medieval writers.
Choices
Dryden chose what to translate based on the way the poems or passages affected him or based on authors who were spiritually compatible with him.
Dryden’s reflections
01
02
03
Fidelity
The kind of fidelity to his original which he should seek.
Knowledge
The kinds of knowledge that any successful translator needs to possess.
Preservation
The ways in which he might best preserve the distinctive ‘character’ of each of their originals.
Dryden’s reflections
04
05
Culture and Language
The larger contribution which translation might make to the culture and language of the nation.
Modification
The degree to which he might properly add to, subtract from, or ‘update’ material in his original.
Prefaces and Dedication
1. Preface to Ovid’s Epistles
A collection of fifteen epistolary poems.
2. Preface to Sylvae
A compilation of translations of various works by different poets.
3. Dedication to the Aeneis
Not only a political reading of the Aeneid, but also a comparison between Virgil's life and career and Dryden's.
4. Preface to Fables Ancient and Modern
A collection of translations of classical and medieval poetry.
Preface to Ovid’s Epistles
Metaphrase
Paraphrase
“turning an author word by word and line by line, from one language into another.”
“translation with latitude, where the author is kept in view by the translator so as never to be lost, but his words are not so strictly followed as his sense, and that too is admitted to be amplified, but not altered.”
Imitation
“where the translator (...) assumes the liberty not only to vary from the words and sense, but to forsake them both as he sees occasion, and taking only some general hints from the original, to run division on the groundwork as he pleases.”
word by word
sense by sense
free translation
Translator
1.
2.
3.
Mastery
A translator must be a master at both the source and the target language to be capable of translating poetry.
Good understanding
A translator must understand the way of thinking and expressing of the poet, because it’s what distinguishes authors.
Awareness
A translator must beware of the words chosen, as they can rob a text or poem of the beauty of the author’s thoughts and imagery.
Preface to Sylvae
Freedom and Pedantry
Maintaining the Character of an Original
“a translator is to make his author appear as charming as possibly he can, provided he maintains his character, and makes him not unlike himself.”
“to be a thorough translator, he must be a thorough poet.”
Lucretius and Horace
Both are easy to distinguish among other authors.
Lucretius is due to his level of confidence.
Horace is due to his elegant and pure words.
Lucretius
Horace
vs
high level of confidence
elegant and pure words
Dedication to the Aeneis
Virgil vs other poets
Translator’s Burden
Virgil is easily distinguished because his words are harmonious; they are chosen with precision in order to create a certain sound.
"But slaves we are, and labour on another man's plantation; we dress the vineyard, but the wine is the owner's”
Preface to Fables Ancient and Modern
Geoffrey Chaucer
Methodology
"I found I had a soul congenial to his, and that I had been conversant in the same studies."
"I have not tied myself to a literal translation; but have often omitted what I judged unnecessary, or not of dignity enough to appear in the company of better thoughts."
Conclusion
KAHOOT