I think the translation by Robert Fitzgerald is a very good introduction. Other translations may be more literal, or may preserve more of the rhythm or rhyme schemes, but his version, especially reading it aloud, comes across as the kind of performance that soldiers and their families would listen to. Gory and graphic, but after all, people of the time actually saw those kinds of wounds / injuries and dealt with death on a regular basis anyway. They weren't clean and shut away like we do these days, for better or worse.
Where were you in ninth grade?
We read the ILLIAD and the translation sucked.
Awesome Work you have done!
I think the translation by Robert Fitzgerald is a very good introduction. Other translations may be more literal, or may preserve more of the rhythm or rhyme schemes, but his version, especially reading it aloud, comes across as the kind of performance that soldiers and their families would listen to. Gory and graphic, but after all, people of the time actually saw those kinds of wounds / injuries and dealt with death on a regular basis anyway. They weren't clean and shut away like we do these days, for better or worse.
Yes!