Comparison of translations of “The Seafarer” by Burton Raffel and Ezra Pound Essay Sample

to do the line experience more like its Old English opposite number.

He even keeps the word oft. since its significance has non truly changed. Theres more initial rhyme in line four. and one time once more Pound elects to remain true to the poetics while Raffel’s interlingual rendition negotiations about a 100 ships. something seemingly invented by the transcriber himself.

In the 2nd half of the verse form Pound continues to make a much better occupation of stand foring the original stuff. In the 5th line he mentions a support. which at foremost seemed unusual. but so I realized that possibly he is mentioning to a palace.

which would do sense because the word seld means throne or high place. Raffel alternatively talks about a 1000 ports. one time once more contriving a figure and at the same clip utilizing a word that was non in the verse form. or at least non explicitly. But in the following line it is Pound who adds a half-line of his ain creative activity to precede the line after. The first half of line six is a reasonably direct interlingual rendition in his though.

as is Raffel’s. In the 2nd half of his ain interlingual rendition Raffel negotiations about sudating in the cold. one time once more apparently non related to the original but sensible in footings of overall significance.Pound uses more initial rhyme in line seven. reasonably closely miming the sound of the Anglo-Saxon version every bit good as the significance. Raffel is uncharacteristically accurate here every bit good.

but he does non seek to double the initial rhyme. Pound and Raffel both treat the last line

likewise. but Pound took it to intend the ship came near to bust uping. whereas Raffel interpreted it as the ship being smashed. Raffel seems to really hold the original text in his favour here for one time.

although Pound’s still retains more of the original diction. Pound did alter the he of the ship to a she to suit the English manner of mentioning to boats. I don’t like this alteration as it takes off from the reliable Anglo-Saxon feel. but it is truly pretty child.

From my analysis of the different interlingual renditions of The Seafarer. its pretty clear which one is more successful at copying the Anglo-Saxon poetic traditions and manner. Ezra Pound’s The Seafarer is still apprehensible despite the assorted word order. merely as the original verse form may hold been a spot confusing. but overall comprehendible.

to a talker of Old English. The version by Raffel seems less foreign and confusing. but it loses some of its complexness and overall poetic feel. Pound does a superior occupation of blending Anglo-Saxon tradition with modern English words.BibliographyTranslation of The Seafarer by Burton RaffelTranslation of The Seafarer by Ezra Pound