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"Arms, and the Man I sing . . ."

A Preface to Dryden's Æneid

Arvid Løsnes

This study-referred to as a "preface" is given this designation because its aim is not to offer an up-to-date overall assessment Dryden's translation of Virgil's Æneid, but rather to provide a valid basis for such an assessment. In this it seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of relevant areas (i.e. the "conditions of expression") forming the very basis of the genesis of Dryden's translation, and thus a valid understanding of the poetry (cf. R.A.Brower, Alexander Pope: The Poetry of Allusion [London, 1968], p.98). Part One provides a firsthand picture of the background out of which Dryden's translation came into being—the tradition of Æneid translation. The evolution of Dryden's theory of translation and his use of textual sources are discussed through a systematic presentation of the various conditions of expression involved as Dryden took upon himself to render Virgil's Æneid into English poetry. Part Two presents the relevant aspects of Dryden's conception of Virgil and essential features of the Virgilian epic with reference to the assessments of modern classical scholars and Dryden's own conceptions in these matters. Various analogies—historical, political and literary—are drawn between the respective periods in which Virgil and Dryden lived to reflect the basic similarity in conditions of expression out of which Virgil's Æneid and Dryden's translation came into being.

University Press Copublishing Division / University of Delaware Press

Pages: 374 • Trim: 6½ x 9½

978-1-61149-002-2 • Hardback • May 2011 • $126.00 • (£97.00)

978-1-61149-003-9 • eBook • May 2011 • $119.50 • (£92.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Semiotics & Theory, Foreign Language Study / Greek (Modern)

"Arms, and the Man I sing . . ."

A Preface to Dryden's Æneid

Hardback

eBook

Summary

This study-referred to as a "preface" is given this designation because its aim is not to offer an up-to-date overall assessment Dryden's translation of Virgil's Æneid, but rather to provide a valid basis for such an assessment. In this it seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of relevant areas (i.e. the "conditions of expression") forming the very basis of the genesis of Dryden's translation, and thus a valid understanding of the poetry (cf. R.A.Brower, Alexander Pope: The Poetry of Allusion [London, 1968], p.98). Part One provides a firsthand picture of the background out of which Dryden's translation came into being—the tradition of Æneid translation. The evolution of Dryden's theory of translation and his use of textual sources are discussed through a systematic presentation of the various conditions of expression involved as Dryden took upon himself to render Virgil's Æneid into English poetry. Part Two presents the relevant aspects of Dryden's conception of Virgil and essential features of the Virgilian epic with reference to the assessments of modern classical scholars and Dryden's own conceptions in these matters. Various analogies—historical, political and literary—are drawn between the respective periods in which Virgil and Dryden lived to reflect the basic similarity in conditions of expression out of which Virgil's Æneid and Dryden's translation came into being.

Details

University Press Copublishing Division / University of Delaware Press

Pages: 374 • Trim: 6½ x 9½

978-1-61149-002-2 • Hardback • May 2011 • $126.00 • (£97.00)

978-1-61149-003-9 • eBook • May 2011 • $119.50 • (£92.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Semiotics & Theory, Foreign Language Study / Greek (Modern)

Author

Arvid L'snes is professor emeritus at Oslo College.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Part 2 Part I: The Background
Chapter 3 Chapter 1: The Tradition of Aeneid Translation in Britain
Chapter 4 Chapter 2: The Art and Theory of Translation
Chapter 5 Chapter 3: The Sources
Part 6 Part II: From Virgil to Dryden
Chapter 7 Chapter 4: Publius Vergilius Maro — Roman Virgil: His Aeneidos
Chapter 8 Chapter 5: John Drydan — English Virgil: His Æneis

Reviews

Losnes' enthusiasm for Dryden's translation is clearly evident, and his treatment of his subject has a decent straightforwardness which one respects.
— Translation and Literature

"Arms, and the Man I sing . . ."

A Preface to Dryden's Æneid

Arvid Løsnes

"Arms, and the Man I sing . . ."

A Preface to Dryden's Æneid

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