Pound does a superior job of mixing anglosaxon tradition with modern english words. The seafarer by ezra pound about this poet ezra pound is widely considered one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. The seafarer essaysin the seafarer, translated by burton raffel, an old sailor expresses his emotions about his life on the sea and how he is affected in a sorrowful way. Burton nathan raffel april 27, 1928 september 29, 2015 was an american translator, a poet and a teacher. The seafarer history the seafarer is an old english poem recorded in the exeter book, one of the four surviving manuscripts of old english poetry. The seafarer the wanderer the wifes lament poetry from the exeter book did you know. How to preserve the initial sense while translating. Although each variation of the seafarer maintains a religious theme of traditional anglosaxon beliefs and the stresses the work that must be put into reaching heaven, an anonymously translated edition found on, an individual translation by burton raffel, and the kluge edition, published by project gutenberg, place a different. Poems and prose from the old english pdf free download. Like most translations of old english literature, the seafarer slightly varies in word choice and syntax among editions. Test for the seafarer translated by burton raffel on the line provided, write the letter of the best answer to each of the following items. The seafarer adapts an old english poem about the suffering and joy of the sea. Comparison of translations of the seafarer by burton.
The seafarer and the wanderer hazleton area high school. The seafarer is an anglosaxon poem found in the exeter book, or the codex exoniensis, which was transcribed by christian monks in the tenth century. The version by raffel seems less foreign and confusing. The seafarer is one of the most famous anglosaxon elegies and is found only in the exeter book.
The seafarer translated by burton raffel composed by an unknown poet part of the exeter book the exeter book was given to. Comparison of translations of the seafarer by burton raffel and ezra pound essay sample. It tells how the sea took me, swept me back and forth in sorrow and fear and pain, showed me suffering in. He remembers terrible cold and loneliness, and hearing the sounds of seabirds instead of the mead hall. The seafarer translated by burton raffel paganism and christianity in the seafarer paganism. The seafarer translated by burton raffel this tale is true, and mine. The seafarer was first discovered in the exeter book, a handcopied manuscript containing the largest known collection of old english poetry, which is kept at exeter cathedral, england. It would appear that the american scholar burton raffel sent tolkien a copy of.
The seafarer has its origins in the old english period of english literature, 4501100, a. The journey of the seafarer is meant as an extended metaphor for the challenges in the life of a committed christian trying to reach heaven. Interpreting a line in the seafarer translated by burton raffel but there isnt a man on earth so proud, so born to greatness, so bold with his youth, that he feels no fear as the sail unfurl, wondering what fate has willed and will do. The seafarer ppt 1 the seafarer translated by burton. Interpreting a line in the seafarer translated by burton. He remembers terrible cold and loneliness, and hearing the sounds of seabirds. The seafarer translated by burton raffel the seafarer, an anonymous poem of uncertain date, was found in the socalled exeter. A religion that has many gods or goddesses, considers the earth holy, and does not have a central authority pagan. First of all, in the seafarer the writer discusses the internal conflicts he is having among the waves of the sea. Raffel translated this poem from the old english and some translations. Exeter book the seafarer summary and analysis gradesaver. Irish author conor mcphersons play the seafarer 2006 is classified as a. The speaker of the seafarer announces that he can make a true song about himself and the suffering he has endured while traveling over the ocean in the middle of winter. Pound does a superior occupation of blending anglosaxon tradition with modern english words.
Choose from 500 different sets of beowulf 1 seafarer flashcards on quizlet. Poems and prose from the old english t r a n s l a t e d by b u r t o n raffel e d i t e d by a l e x a n d r a h. The seafarer translated by burton raffel the seafarer, an anonymous poem of uncertain date, was found in the so. It tells how the sea took me, swept me back and forth in sorrow and fear and pain, showed me suffering in a hundred ships, 5 in a thousand ports, and in me. Burch the seafarer is an old english anglosaxon poem whose author is unknown. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the seafarer by conor mcpherson.
In the past it has been frequently referred to as an elegy, a poem that. My modern english translation appears on the right. Like most translations of old english literature, the seafarer slightly. He was an early champion of a number of avantgarde and modernist poets. The original anglosaxon poem, generally categorized as an elegy or lament, appears on the left. And know what ive known since the long cheerful nights. Bibliographytranslation of the seafarer by burton raffeltranslation of the seafarer by ezra pound. Translated by burton raffel the monster grendel a powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient as day after day the music rang loud in that hall, the harps rejoicing 5 call and the poets clear songs, sung of the ancient beginnings of. The unique copy of the seafarer is found in the exeter book, a manuscript anthology of old english poetry assembled about 975 c. Blog assignment the seafarer translated by burton raffel. Learn beowulf 1 seafarer with free interactive flashcards. The seafarer is featured in one of pounds bestknown collections, ripostes 1912. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
The seafarer can be read as two poems on separate subjects or as one poem moving between two subjects. How shild1 made slaves of soldiers from every land, crowds of captives hed beaten 5 into terror. Comparing the seafarer, the wanderer, and the wifes. It tells of smashing surf when i sweated in the cold of an anxious watch, perched in the bow. What does the speaker mean when he speaks lines 5861 of the. Hardcore enthusiasts of old english literature and burton raffel will also want to read poems and prose from the old english, translated and edited by burton raffel with the editorial assistance.
A quick summary the speaker of the seafarer announces that he can make a true song about himself and the suffering he has endured while traveling over the ocean in the middle of winter. The text is translated from the old english by burton raffel as printed in. The seafarer, an anonymous poem of uncertain date, was found in the so called exeter book, one of the four important collections of anglosaxon poetry that have survived. Pdf the seafarer translated by burton raffel giacomo. Pdf the seafarer translated by burton raffel giacomo demarchi. One who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual.
The seafarer is a 124line poem written in old english that scholars often view as a companion piece to the wanderer. View the seafarer ppt 1 from english 1010 at ellicott senior high school. The version by raffel seems less foreign and confusing, but it loses some of its complexity and overall poetic feel. It consists of 124 lines, followed by the single word amen. The seafarer translated by burton raffel the seafarer, an anonymous poem of uncertain date, wasfound in the socalled exeter book, one of the four important collections of anglosaxon poetry that have survived. Compare the two versions of the seafarer by raffel and pound and give reasoning for why one is a better translation, in terms of preserving the anglosaxon poetic tradition and the overall feel of the poem.
Weve heard of danish heroes, ancient kings and the glory they cut for themselves, swinging mighty swords. Bonaventura peeters, sunlight on a story sea, 1640s bonaventura peeters, sunlight on a story sea, 1640s may i for my own self songs truth reckon, journeys jargon, how i in harsh days hardship endured oft. The answer to this rhetorical question and yet follows, and burton raffel translates it. He longs for happiness but is unable to find it in a world controlled by fate. The translation by ezra pound did more to capture the original essence of the poem than burton raffel s version, though. No i do not, because the original tale of beowulf was a story told by pagans, however the monk who wrote the epic took out much of the pagan influence and instead put in nonsensical, out of place references to christianity. The seafarer translated by burton raffel on page 79. Translated by burton raffel the seafarer 1st hour genius. The seafarer is divisible into two sections, the first elegiac and the second didactic. Beowulf translation from burton raffel prologue hear me. Regardless, both of the translations we looked at took some measures to preserve the anglosaxon artistry that went into the seafarer. The seafarer, wanderer, and the wifes lament use various literary devices to express the emotional toil, sorrow, and each theme of their exile. Can be considered an elegy, or mournful, contemplative poem. The speakers feelings for the sea are best described as.
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