Conversations with Tyler Emily Wilson on Translations and Language
Mar 27, 2019
Emily Wilson, a Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and renowned translator of Homer's works, dives into the challenges of translating ancient texts. She discusses quirky translation difficulties, like the lack of onomatopoeic words in English for chaotic sounds. The conversation touches on Stoicism's charm for Silicon Valley, the gender dynamics in academia, and her struggle with translating the Iliad after the Odyssey. With a big Ikea desk and a giant orange cat, she emphasizes the art of literary translation and the importance of inclusive classics education.
56:22
Odysseus's Conflicted Homecoming
- Odysseus's desire to return home in Homer's Odyssey is complex and unclear.
- He delays his journey with detours, suggesting conflicting motivations.
Odysseus: Hero or Not?
- Odysseus isn't simply admirable; he's complicated.
- He embodies survival but loses all his men, raising questions about leadership.
Telemachus's Journey
- Telemachus's journey is dangerous and seemingly pointless, raising questions.
- Athena guides him, likely to parallel and contrast with Odysseus's journey.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Odysseus: Hero or Flawed Leader?
02:09 • 18min
Reimagining Classics Education and Political Representation
20:24 • 2min
Stoicism, Hypocrisy, and the Nature of Virtue
22:28 • 9min
Exploring Cultural and Historical Perspectives: Overrated or Underrated
31:46 • 3min
The Art of Translation: Navigating Language and Meaning
34:44 • 11min
Fame, Gender, and Translation in Academia
45:40 • 8min
The Craft of Translation and Literary Advice
53:48 • 2min
The Narnia books
C.S. Lewis
Funeral Blues
Funeral Blues
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W.H. Auden
W.
H. Auden's "Funeral Blues" is a short, intensely emotional poem expressing grief and despair over the death of a loved one.
The poem's simple yet powerful language and its use of vivid imagery create a profound sense of loss.
Auden's exploration of themes of mortality and the enduring power of love has resonated with readers for generations.
"Funeral Blues" is a testament to Auden's ability to capture complex emotions in a concise and memorable way.
Its enduring popularity speaks to its universal appeal and its ability to connect with readers on a deeply personal level.
Consider the Fork
A History of How We Cook and Eat
Bee Wilson
In 'Consider the Fork', Bee Wilson delves into the history of culinary tools, from ancient utensils like knives and pots to modern appliances like microwaves.
The book blends history, science, and personal anecdotes to reveal how these tools have shaped our eating habits and food culture.
Wilson's narrative is both informative and entertaining, highlighting the significance of everyday kitchen items in shaping our culinary traditions.
Robert Alter translations
Robert Alter translations
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Robert Alter
Seneca: A Life
Emily Wilson
This biography provides a nuanced perspective on Seneca's complex life, highlighting his embrace of Stoic ideals while serving Nero and accumulating wealth.
It offers a riveting and complete picture of Seneca's conflicted mind and motives.
Socrates
Socrates
In *The Apology*, Plato recounts the speech Socrates delivered at his trial, where he was charged with impiety and corrupting the youth.
Socrates defends his actions and philosophy, emphasizing his duty to seek truth and wisdom as directed by the oracle at Delphi.
He argues that his mission is to awaken the Athenian state from its ignorance and that he is willing to face death rather than abandon his philosophical pursuits.
The dialogue is a cornerstone of Western philosophy, highlighting Socrates' method of questioning and his commitment to ethical living.
Paradise Lost
John Milton
Published in 1667, 'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem in blank verse that follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man. The poem begins in medias res, detailing the descent of Satan and his followers into Hell after their rebellion against God. It explores two main narrative arcs: one focusing on Satan's actions and the other on Adam and Eve's story in the Garden of Eden.
The poem delves into themes such as free will, obedience, revenge, and pride, and it portrays the complex characters of Satan, Adam, and Eve. Milton's work is known for its rich language, classical structure, and profound theological and philosophical insights.
Homer's odyssey
Gwen Cooper
Homer's Odyssey is a memoir by Gwen Cooper that chronicles her life with a blind cat named Homer.
Despite being born without eyes, Homer grows into a spirited and loving companion who faces numerous challenges, including surviving the aftermath of 9/11 and defending his home against an intruder.
Through Homer's adventures, Cooper reflects on the profound impact he had on her life, teaching her about courage, love, and living beyond limitations.
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Sir Michael Howard
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
The waste land
T. S. Eliot
The Waste Land is a 434-line poem divided into five sections: 'The Burial of the Dead', 'A Game of Chess', 'The Fire Sermon', 'Death by Water', and 'What the Thunder Said'.
It is a complex and erudite work that incorporates numerous allusions to mythology, classical literature, and religious texts.
The poem reflects the spiritual disillusionment and moral decay of the Western world after World War I, portraying a sterile and fragmented society.
It was initially met with controversy due to its innovative and often obscure style but has since become a central work in the modernist canon.
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Published in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel that revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth.
The story is set in the early 19th century and explores themes of love, societal expectations, and personal growth.
The novel centers on Elizabeth's tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy, whose initial arrogance and reserve gradually give way to a deeper understanding and mutual respect.
Through their interactions, both characters learn to overcome their prejudices and flaws, leading to a transformative journey of self-discovery and redemption.
The novel also delves into the societal pressures on women to secure marriages, the importance of family, and the nuances of social hierarchy during the British Regency period.
Jane Eyre
Edmund Morrison Wimperis
Edmund H. Garrett
Jant van der Weg-Laverman
Charlotte Brontë
The novel follows Jane Eyre from her childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she is mistreated by her aunt and cousins, to her education at Lowood School, and later her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall.
There, she falls in love with her enigmatic employer, Edward Fairfax Rochester, but discovers a dark secret about his past that forces her to make a difficult choice.
The novel explores themes of love, independence, and social justice, and is known for its realistic portrayal of the inner life of a woman during the Victorian era.
Faithfull
An Autobiography
Marianne Faithfull
This autobiography chronicles Marianne Faithfull's life from her discovery by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham in 1964 to her rise as a teenage pop star.
It includes her highly publicized relationship with Mick Jagger, her struggles with heroin addiction in the 1970s, and her successful musical comeback with the album 'Broken English' in 1979.
The book is known for its candid and often dark portrayal of Faithfull's life, including her encounters with various pop legends and her personal struggles with addiction and identity.
A Tale of Two Cities
Julius Julius Seybt
Francisco Manuel GRANADO CASTRO
Marion Leighton
federico alonso
Aedi Abraham
maxi sanchez
jaime arbe
Fred BARNARD
Laura Santamaria
Juan Ramon Torregrosa
monica alonso
Charles Dickens
Alejo García Moreno
Miguel Muñoz
leonardo pablo federico sanchez alonso
J. J. Bernier
Salustiano Masó Simón
Victor G Ambrus
Jose perez
Hablot K. BROWNE
Published in 1859, 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens is a historical novel that contrasts the lives in London and Paris during the late 18th century.
The story revolves around characters such as Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Lucie Manette, each dealing with love, sacrifice, and the profound societal changes brought about by the French Revolution.
The novel critiques both the conditions leading up to the Revolution and the Revolution itself, highlighting themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and the potential for positive change.
Dickens's vivid portrayal of the social disparities and political unrest of the era, along with his iconic opening lines, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,' make the novel a compelling exploration of human resilience and societal issues.
Astrophel and Stella
Astrophel and Stella
Sir Philip Sidney
In a recent Twitter thread, Emily Wilson listed some of the difficulties of translating Homer into English. Among them: “There aren’t enough onomatopoeic words for very loud chaotic noises” (#2 on the list), “It’s very hard to come up with enough ways to describe intense desire to act that don’t connote modern psychology” (#5), and “There is no common English word of four syllables or fewer connoting ‘person particularly favored by Zeus due to high social status, and by the way this is a very normal ordinary word which is not drawing any special attention to itself whatsoever, beyond generic heroizing.’” (#7).
Using Twitter this way is part of her effort to explain literary translation. What do translators do all day? Why can the same sentence turn out so differently depending on the translator? Why did she get stuck translating the Iliad immediately after producing a beloved translation of the Odyssey?
She and Tyler discuss these questions and more, including why Silicon Valley loves Stoicism, whether Plato made Socrates sound smarter than he was, the future of classics education, the effect of AI on translation, how to make academia more friendly to women, whether she’d choose to ‘overlive’, and the importance of having a big Ikea desk and a huge orange cat.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.
Recorded March 7th, 2019 Other ways to connect
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