The Odyssey trailer 2 (full trailer)
- Thread starter dahliaclone
- Start date
Been a minute since I've seen content from the Bee. They shut up real quick didn't they
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
Well, the two of us was fixin' to fornicate!
I don't know how you can be an educated person in any language without reading Homer.
The Homeric tradition is foundational to human civilization.
Depends on the translation.
Choosing the right translation depends entirely on the style and pacing you prefer:
- Best for Readability & Modern Audiences: Translated by Emily Wilson, the The Odyssey on W.W. Norton & Company is the first English translation by a woman. It is highly acclaimed for using strict iambic pentameter that drives the story forward rapidly, avoiding archaic language in favor of clean, direct speech.
- Best for Cinematic Drama: Robert Fagles' version is often assigned in universities for its narrative energy and highly theatrical, modern free-verse feel. It is widely considered the most gripping and cinematic version for newcomers.
- Best for Lyrical Poetry: Robert Fitzgerald's translation is beloved for its haunting, beautiful, and musical English verse. It retains a majestic, high-literary tone that feels very traditional and majestic.
- Best for Literal/Academic Accuracy: Richmond Lattimore aims for strict, word-by-word fidelity to the Ancient Greek and its repetitive structures. While it feels a bit stiffer than others, it is the standard recommendation for students or those studying the original meter.
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
I'm pretty old, I'm guessing that I read the Fitzgerald translation. Whatever it was, it was in verse.
Here's some helpful clues from...AI to the rescue (boom, boom), AI to the rescue...
| Translator | Opening Line Description of Odysseus | Style & Pace | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Wilson | "A complicated man" | Clean, direct, fast-paced iambic pentameter. | First-time readers & modern clarity. |
| Robert Fagles | "The man of twists and turns" | Dramatic, cinematic, rhythmic free verse. | A balanced, engaging aloud reading. |
| Robert Fitzgerald | "Skilled in all ways of contending" | Lyrical, high-poetry, traditional majesty. | Lovers of traditional epic poetry. |
| Richmond Lattimore | "The man of many ways" | Academic, literal, matches Greek line structures. | Close literary study & classroom analysis. |
| E.V. Rieu | "That very resourceful man" | Straightforward prose; reads like a novel. | Casual reading without poetic constraints. |
In-Depth Breakdown
1. Emily Wilson (2017)
- The Vibe: Lean, swift, and highly contemporary. [1, 2]
- The Approach: Emily Wilson matches the exact line count of the original Greek. She uses regular iambic pentameter (the rhythm of Shakespeare) to keep the text moving briskly. [1, 2]
2. Robert Fagles (1990)
- The Vibe: Cinematic, grand, and theatrical.
- The Approach: Fagles uses a flexible, non-metrical free verse that relies on heavy alliteration and strong verbs to build energy.
3. Robert Fitzgerald (1961)
- The Vibe: Lyrical, dense, and deeply poetic.
- The Approach: Fitzgerald captures the musicality of an oral epic using gorgeous, traditional blank verse.
4. Richmond Lattimore (1965)
- The Vibe: Rigorous, literal, and faithful. [1, 2]
- The Approach: Lattimore minimizes his own authorial voice to bring you as close to the actual layout of the ancient Greek text as possible. [1, 2]
5. E.V. Rieu (1946) :
- The Vibe: A straightforward prose novel.
- The Approach: Rieu completely strips away the line breaks, meter, and poetic verse to present the story as pure narrative fiction.
I read the Fagles translation.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0140268863?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Everett: No, the treasure's still there boys, believe me.
Delmar: [about the Blind Seer] But how'd he know about the treasure?
Everett: I don't know Delmar. The blind are reputed to possess sensitivities compensating for their lack of sight, even to the point of developing paranormal psychic powers. Now, clearly seeing into the future would fall neatly into that category; it's not so surprising then that an organism deprived of its earthly vision...
Pete: He said we wouldn't get it. He said we wouldn't get the treasure we seek on account of our obstacles.
Everett: What the hell does he know? He's an ignorant old man.
Even the British actors have american accents. It's kind of nitpicky, but these tails always "feel" better if we are speaking english(to avoid subtitles) with some sort of european accent. American accents in these movies just seem out of place. However, I would be lying if I wouldn't find it bizzare to see Matt Damon acting with a British accent. I realize he adopted a south african one for Inviticus, but for some reason that feel differnt.
It has been a cinematic trope for decades "ancient English" sounded British or at least not American. It's not like the Greeks and Romans actually sounded like Richard Burton and Laurence d'Olivier.
It's been done for so many decades we've come to expect it even if not consciously.
Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator, etc.
There was an old British actor named Oliver Reed that died in a bar while filming Gladiator, and had some excellent advice on acting
