Summary
"The Iliad" is one of the foundational works of Western literature and thought. It’s an old story that continues to resonate in our time and has been given new life in a translation by distinguished classical scholar Emily Wilson.
For a transcript, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Warm up questions
- Who is Emily Wilson?
- What inspired Wilson to choose iambic pentameter as the poetic form for her translation of "The Iliad"?
- When did Wilson's translation of "The Iliad" get published?
- Why does Wilson believe that classical works like "The Iliad" are relevant to our modern times?
- How old is the original "The Iliad"?
Focus questions
Why do you think classic works might benefit from new translations? What might it add to a work to connect to it through contemporary language?
Media literacy: "Jeffrey Brown: English translators — there have been more than 100 of them over 400 years — have used a wide variety of approaches and poetic styles." In fact, the NewsHour produced a piece in 2015 on another translation here.
- Do you think the news media should continue to cover new translations of ancient texts? Explain.
- How can you find out more about "The Iliad" and other old texts?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
For more
What students can do: Discuss with a friend, neighbor or classmate — what unique approach did Emily Wilson take in her translation of "The Iliad"?
Also, check out this Student Reporting Labs video which discusses how poetry helps human expression:
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