POETRY AND TRANSLATION: DOORWAYS AND GATEWAYS; SPRINGBOARDS AND SOURCES

The translation of poems is probably as old as poetry itself, while poetry is regarded as the primal source of all literature. Translated poems are doorways into infinitely various habitations, or gateways into meadows both like and unlike our own. It is no wonder that so many poets have used translation as springboards for their own creativity, or as a way to exercise their writing muscles. Using literal and gloss translations of a range of poems from different source languages, this course will make the creative act of translating poetry available to all. Knowledge of a foreign language is not necessary, but do bring curiosity, playfulness and the spirit of experimentation.