Twelve Syllables and Counting: Translating Racine's Andromaque (1667) in Alexandrines

Manon Hume, Oberlin CollegeFollow

Location

King Building 341

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-29-2016 1:30 PM

End Date

4-29-2016 2:30 PM

Abstract

Jean-Baptiste Racine is easily one of the most influential dramatists in French history. Yet centuries after his plays first hit the stage, he is still considered “untranslatable” by Anglophone audiences. This project not only delves into the unique aspects of Racinian verse, but undertakes a never-before-attempted technique to translating them: maintaining the original classical French alexandrine format. Through the analysis and comparison of my “French alexandrine in English” with other English translations, I examine the benefits of this new approach and its attempt to capture “la musique racinienne.”

Notes

Session I, Panel 5 - The Oblique, the Graphic, and the (Allegedly) Untranslatable
Moderator: Chris Trinacty, Assistant Professor of Classics

Major

Comparative Literature; East Asian Studies; French

Advisor(s)

Ann Sherif, East Asian Studies
Preea Leelah, French

Project Mentor(s)

Matthew Senior, French

April 2016

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Apr 29th, 1:30 PM Apr 29th, 2:30 PM

Twelve Syllables and Counting: Translating Racine's Andromaque (1667) in Alexandrines

King Building 341

Jean-Baptiste Racine is easily one of the most influential dramatists in French history. Yet centuries after his plays first hit the stage, he is still considered “untranslatable” by Anglophone audiences. This project not only delves into the unique aspects of Racinian verse, but undertakes a never-before-attempted technique to translating them: maintaining the original classical French alexandrine format. Through the analysis and comparison of my “French alexandrine in English” with other English translations, I examine the benefits of this new approach and its attempt to capture “la musique racinienne.”