Sarpedon to Glaucus Flashcards
Q: How does Pope compare Homer’s style to the Bible?
A: Both use a pure, simple language that was clear and familiar to their original audiences.
Q: What verse form does Pope use in his translation of The Iliad?
A: Iambic pentameter heroic couplets (English Epic tradition pioneered by Chaucer’s Epic Canterbury Tales)
Q: What literary strategy does Pope use to enhance his translation?
A: Draws on the epic tradition (Virgil, Statius, Milton, etc.) and adds painterly, vivid descriptions.
Q: Which earlier translators does Pope criticise to define his own approach?
A: Chapman (wild and outdated) and Dryden (free and interpretive): positions himself as the translator who brings out Homer’s true genius.
Pope asserts own authority of Homer’s poetic genius: translation is meant to combine classical restraint with modern polish, reflecting his Augustan values of order, decorum, and refinement.
Q: What kind of imagery does Pope avoid in his translation?
A: “Low” similes about farm life, insects, and rustic scenes.
Q: How was Pope’s translation criticised by a contemporary?
A: It was said to turn Homer’s substantial poetry into something light, fashionable with no substance for refined audiences.
Q: According to Pope’s note on Iliad 12, what is better: glory or a long disgraceful life?
A: Glory is better; death is inevitable, but disgrace lasts forever.
Q: Who delivers the speech about glory in Iliad 12 according to Pope?
A: A heroic figure, the son of Zeus — not an ordinary man. Divine heritage vs mortal fate (mortality is inescapable, central theme of Iliad)
How did Pope’s translation of The Iliad differ from modern translations?
A: Pope adapted Homer’s action and thought according to 18th-century Augustan ideals, presenting gods and heroes in an elevated, more “civilized” light.
Q: What was Pope’s “double vision” of the Iliad?
A: Pope viewed the Iliad as both a self-contained cohesive work and as part of a long, evolving tradition. Task of reconicilation: He had to modernize Homer’s voice without distorting it—bridging ancient content with modern (18th-century) style.
Q: How did Pope’s translation reflect his era’s values?
A: Pope recreated Homer’s thoughts and actions in terms of the cultural, philosophical, and moral conditions – moral lessons + align with the ideals of the Enlightenment.
