"On Translating Homer": Translation of the first conference of Matthew Arnold about the translation of Homer

Abstract

In 1861, Matthew Arnold gave a lecture on the translation of Homer into English, particularly Francis Newman's then-recent translation of the Iliad, which provoked a rejoinder followed by a rejoinder. In this translation with commentaries, which introduces this series of three lectures translated into the Brazilian literary system, we begin the translation of the material with Arnold's first lecture at Oxford University, and then turn to the responses to this and the following lecture. Here we present a brief introduction to Arnold, the lecture itself, and some notes on the translation process into Brazilian Portuguese. The translation proposed here aims to preserve Arnold's rhythm, characterized by long periods and paragraphs and by heterodox punctuation. As one of the most important texts in translation studies, this first translation into Brazilian Portuguese aims to provide Portuguese-speaking readers with an important contribution to the criticism of Homer.