Homer’s poetry has been read both in translation and its original Greek for thousands of years. The Iliad and the Odyssey contain many of the most enduring images and characters in literary history. As time passes, the original texts become more and more distant and the language, even with updated translations, can be daunting. Listen to hear how a new translation of Homer’s works aim to bring those characters to life for a new generation.
Story Length: 6:15
© 2007 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
01/13/2007
https://app.listenwise.com/students/lessons/482-homers-iliad-and-odyssey
What does the classics scholar mean when she says, “You can’t distort Homer to please, say, a teenage audience”?
What is it about Johnston’s translation that is different from previous ones, according to the story?
Why does the scholar say that the “layout” in this version is important?
What was so compelling about Thersites’ speech to Agamemnon?
Why didn’t Andromache want Hector to face Achilles?
