The Odyssey in Plain English
Eliane Mitchell

01 December 2017
The first woman to translate The Odyssey, Emily Wilson, tells the famous story of Odysseus, Homer's cunning Trojan war hero, in a radically different wayShe tells it in plain English.
 
Starting the epic with "Tell me about a complicated man," Wilson departs from stilted translations of the original Greek. She replaces Robert Fagles's translation ("whores") for "dmoai," the female slaves whom Odysseus slaughters at his homecoming, with the more accurate translation "girls."
 
Wilson's translation is direct, and her effort raises important questions around the translation of classical works. What should we expect from those who translate ancient texts? And what historical, ethical or social issues does Wilson's translation highlight that other esteemed translations have ignored?
 
Read the article to learn more about Wilson and the reasons driving some of her choices in translation here: 
 

 

Comments (3)


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XavierLoyd

Thursday, August 8, 2024 -- 5:09 AM

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Brandasaza

Friday, December 6, 2024 -- 3:48 AM

Emily Wilson’s translation of

Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey brings a fresh, modern approach to this ancient epic. By using straightforward, clear English, she makes the story more accessible to contemporary readers. For example, instead of using the awkward term "whores" as in previous translations, she opts for the more accurate "girls" when describing the female slaves Odysseus kills. This makes the translation feel more true to the original text. If you’re looking to rewrite or simplify English texts yourself, you can try a free English rewriter by Smodin to make your writing clearer and easier to understand.

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Brandasaza

Friday, December 6, 2024 -- 3:49 AM

By starting with the phrase

By starting with the phrase "Tell me about a complicated man," she immediately connects with modern readers, setting a more approachable tone. Her choice to use "girls" instead of "whores" helps clarify the meaning behind Homer’s words without losing their impact. This translation focuses on making the text feel more current, which can help readers engage with the story in a new way. For anyone looking to enhance their own writing, a free English rewriter by Smodin can be a helpful tool to make language more direct and understandable.

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