UMass Boston

Art of Literary Translation

Course #: ENGL 680, Class #: 7320, Section #: 01

Description

This graduate seminar examines literary translation and interpretation, concentrating on both poetry and prose. Translators can be viewed as artists working between one language and another, recreating texts. The course will focus on the practice, theory, and craft of literary translation, with particular attention given to close reading interpretation. Students will produce translations of texts of their own choice. Knowledge of second language is recommended, but not required to take the course. Students without knowledge of a second language will have the opportunity to produce translations of texts written in middle or old English, or in dialect of English. Readings will include classic and recent essays on translation theory, as well as excerpts from a selection of variant sample translations. Attention will also be given to how the practice of translation has influenced the work of many well-known writers, from Elizabeth Bishop, Seamus Heaney and W. S. Merwin to Robert Pinsky and H. D. Without translation, a critical activity that connects otherwise separate languages and cultures, readers and writers would be left in relative isolation, unaware of wider trends in world literature. With thousands of languages used worldwide, all of us, even multilingual readers, are ultimately dependent on the work of translators to read more widely. Translation is a fascinating area of study that presents stimulating possibilities for creative writers.