After 20 years, Mary Jo Bang has completed her translation of Dante's 'Divine Comedy'
In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, Mary Jo Bang discusses her twenty-year journey translating Dante's Divine Comedy into contemporary English. Bang explains how she approached the complex task of making Dante's medieval Italian poetry accessible to modern readers while maintaining its poetic qualities, using techniques like assonance and slant rhyme rather than adhering to Dante's original rhyme scheme.
The discussion explores how Bang's translation preserves Dante's timeless themes about morality, justice, and human behavior while making them more relatable to 21st-century readers. Bang shares insights about completing the trilogy during the pandemic, her translation of Paradiso, and her motivations for undertaking this extensive project that has occupied two decades of her career.
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1-Page Summary
Bang's Translation Approach and Goals
Mary Jo Bang set out to create a contemporary translation of Dante's Divine Comedy that would resonate with modern readers while preserving the original's poetic dynamism. Rather than pursuing a strict translation, Bang opted for a modern, relatable style. According to Shapiro, she employed contemporary poetic techniques like assonance, alliteration, and slant rhyme to maintain the sonic momentum of Dante's work without being bound by his original rhyme scheme.
Dante's Original Style vs. Bang's Translation
Dante's Italian poetry presents unique challenges for English translation, primarily due to Italian's vowel-rich nature which makes rhyming easier than in English. Recognizing these limitations, Bang developed alternative approaches using modern poetic devices to recreate the sonic quality of Dante's work while making it accessible to English-speaking audiences.
Dante's Relevance in the Modern Era
Dante's work continues to resonate with contemporary readers through its exploration of timeless themes about morality, justice, and human behavior. Bang's translation modernizes these themes, making them more accessible to 21st-century readers. She achieves this by using relatable language, such as comparing Dante's response to the afterlife to that of a child seeking comfort from a trusted adult.
Bang's Journey In Completing the Divine Comedy Trilogy
Bang's two-decade journey of translating the Divine Comedy culminated during the pandemic when she finally tackled Paradiso. Although she had previously translated other parts of the trilogy, it was her curiosity about Dante's conclusion and sense of duty that drove her to complete the entire work. The project has occupied most of Bang's past 20 years, leading her to contemplate what new pursuits might fill the void left by its completion.
1-Page Summary
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Counterarguments
- While Bang's contemporary translation techniques may resonate with modern readers, some purists might argue that they could stray too far from Dante's original text, potentially altering the intended experience and meaning.
- The use of modern poetic devices like assonance, alliteration, and slant rhyme, while innovative, may not always capture the intricate structure and rhythm of Dante's terza rima, which is central to the Divine Comedy's original poetic form.
- Translating Dante's work into relatable modern language could risk oversimplifying complex theological and philosophical ideas, potentially diminishing the depth of the original text.
- The relevance of Dante's work to contemporary readers is subjective; while Bang's translation may make the text more accessible, some readers might find that the themes do not resonate with them regardless of the language used.
- The comparison of Dante's response to the afterlife to that of a child seeking comfort may not align with every reader's interpretation of the Divine Comedy, as literary works often elicit diverse responses based on individual perspectives.
- The completion of the Divine Comedy trilogy during the pandemic is a notable achievement, but it does not necessarily contribute to the quality or success of the translation itself.
- Bang's sense of duty in completing the work is commendable, but it is not a direct reflection of the translation's fidelity or effectiveness in conveying Dante's original intent.
- The fact that the project occupied most of Bang's past 20 years is impressive, but the time spent on a project is not always indicative of its quality or success.
Actionables
- You can explore the impact of language and sound in literature by reading a classic poem and then a modern translation, noting the differences in rhythm and word choice. This will help you appreciate the challenges of translation and the importance of sonic qualities in poetry. For example, compare a Shakespeare sonnet with a contemporary translation or adaptation to see how modern language changes the poem's impact.
- Try modernizing a piece of classic literature or a historical event in a short story or blog post to understand how themes can be adapted to contemporary settings. This exercise will give you insight into how timeless themes of morality and human behavior are relevant today. For instance, take a story like "Romeo and Juliet" and set it in a modern high school, exploring how social media might influence the characters' decisions.
- Reflect on a long-term project or goal you have by journaling about what drives you to complete it, similar to how curiosity and a sense of duty propelled Bang to finish her translation. This personal reflection can help you identify your motivations and the satisfaction of pursuing a significant, long-term endeavor. Write down your thoughts once a week, focusing on your progress, challenges, and what keeps you committed to your goal.
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Bang's Translation Approach and Goals
Bang aimed to create an accessible, contemporary version of Dante’s Divine Comedy that captures the essence of Dante's poetry.
Bang Aimed to Create an Accessible, Contemporary Translation of Dante's Divine Comedy
Bang sought to recreate the poetic dynamism of Dante’s work. She wanted her translation to resonate with modern readers through contemporary language and style, allowing the sonic momentum of Dante’s poetry to remain intact in a form that would feel fresh and new.
Bang Captured Dante's Poetic Essence in a Modern, Relatable Style Over a Strict Translation
By foregoing a strict translation, Bang chose to capture Dante’s poetic essence by adopting a modern, relatable style. She wanted to announce from the start that her translation would keep the sense of sonic momentum that rhyme provides, but with a different approach.
Bang Used Contemporary Techniques Like Assonance, Alliteration, and Slant Rhyme to Maintain Sonic Momentum Without Adhering To Dante's Original Scheme
Bang incorporated various poetic techniques to achieve this. Shapiro notes that she used assonance, alliteration, and slant rhyme to substitute for ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Bang's Translation Approach and Goals
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Bang's translation aims for accessibility, some purists might argue that contemporary language can dilute the historical and cultural context that is essential for understanding Dante's work.
- The use of modern language and style might resonate with contemporary readers, but it could also alienate those who seek a more traditional reading experience or who value historical linguistic authenticity.
- Capturing the poetic essence in a modern style is subjective, and some readers might feel that the translation loses the nuance and depth of the original text.
- Employing contemporary techniques like assonance, alliteration, and slant rhyme may maintain sonic momentum, but it might not fully honor the intricate rhyme scheme and metric ...
Actionables
- You can modernize a classic text by rewriting a scene or passage using current slang and references. Choose a passage from a classic work, like Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," and translate it into today's vernacular, incorporating pop culture references and modern-day issues. This exercise will help you understand the process of updating language while maintaining the original's spirit.
- Experiment with writing your own poetry by using sound devices like assonance and consonance. Start with a simple subject, like describing a landscape or an emotion, and focus on creating a rhythm with repeating sounds rather than rhyming. For example, describe a stormy sea with phrases like "harsh winds hissing, waves crashing," to practice assonance and consonance.
- Create a pla ...
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Dante's Original Style vs. Bang's Translation
A deep dive into how the structural complications of Dante's Italian poetry present challenges for English translations and the alternative routes taken by translator Mary Jo Bang to convey a similar auditorial experience.
Dante's Italian Poetry Had a Challenging Meter and Intricate Rhyme Scheme to Replicate In English
Italian's Vowel Endings Make It Rhymer Than English, Challenging Direct Translation
Dante Alighieri’s Italian poetry, especially in his magnum opus "The Divine Comedy," features a challenging meter and a complex rhyme scheme that is incredibly difficult to replicate in English. Italian as a language, with its abundance of vowel endings, allows for easier rhymes and a more melodic quality, which makes direct translation into the less rhyme-rich English language particularly challenging. This inherent difference in the two languages means that maintaining the same rhyme scheme is almost unachievable without severe compromises to the original meaning or flow.
Bang Used Alternative Devices to Convey Similar Sonic Quality Without Dante's Rigid Structure
Understanding the limitations she faced, translator Mary Jo Bang recognized that Dante's rhyme scheme, which he invented for the poem, couldn't be maintained in English translatio ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Dante's Original Style vs. Bang's Translation
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Italian does have many vowel endings that facilitate rhyming, it is not impossible to find equivalent rhymes in English; it may require more creativity and flexibility with word choice.
- Some translators might argue that maintaining the original rhyme scheme is possible and can be done without significant compromises to the meaning or flow, though it may require a more archaic or formal use of the English language.
- There is a perspective that translations should strive to preserve as much of the original structure and form as possible, even if it means the translation will be less accessible to contemporary audiences.
- The use of modern poetic techniques like assonance, alliteration, and slant rhyme, while innovative, might not always convey the same depth of meaning and emotional impact as Dante's original meter and rhyme scheme.
- Some critics might argue that Bang's approach, while making the text more access ...
Actionables
- You can experiment with translating a short poem from a language you're familiar with into English, focusing on preserving the poem's essence rather than its exact structure. Start with a poem that has a clear rhythm and rhyme in its original language. As you translate, prioritize conveying the poem's mood and themes, even if it means using different rhyming techniques like assonance or alliteration. This will help you understand the complexities of translation and the creative liberties needed to maintain poetic quality.
- Try writing your own poetry using the constraints of a foreign language's poetic form, but in English. For instance, if a Spanish poem uses a specific meter, attempt to write an English poem that adheres to this meter. This will challenge you to be creative within set boundaries and give you a deeper appreciation for the art of poetry ac ...
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Dante's Relevance in the Modern Era
Dante Alighieri's work maintains its relevance, resonating with the persistent moral and human condition questions that we face today.
Dante's Poem Mirrors Today's Political and Social Divisions
Dante's View on Actions Shaping the Afterlife Resonates With Timeless Moral and Human Condition Questions
Dante was deeply concerned with the moral fabric of society and how individual choices echo into eternity. He crafted his poem with the underpinning belief that the afterlife is a direct reflection of our earthly actions. This perspective taps into enduring questions about morality, justice, and the consequences of our behavior, themes that remain significant as society grapples with political and ethical conundrums.
Bang's Translation Modernizes Dante's Epic, Making Its Timeless Themes Accessible to 21st-Century Readers
Bang has offered a translation of Dante's epic that modernizes its language and enhances accessibility for contemporary readers. Her translation aims to resonate with today’s ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Dante's Relevance in the Modern Era
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Counterarguments
- While Dante's work does address universal themes, its relevance might be less apparent to those who do not share the same religious or cultural background, as the poem is deeply rooted in Christian theology and medieval European society.
- The idea that the afterlife reflects our earthly actions is a religious belief that not all modern readers share, which could make Dante's message less resonant with secular or non-Christian audiences.
- Modern translations, while making the text more accessible, might lose some of the original poetic nuance and cultural context that give the work its depth and historical significance.
- The themes of morality and justice in Dante's work are interpreted through a medieval lens, which might not align with contemporary views on justice, especially c ...
Actionables
- Reflect on your daily choices by journaling to explore how they align with your moral values, inspired by Dante's theme of actions reflecting in the afterlife. At the end of each day, write down key decisions you made and consider their potential long-term impacts on yourself and others, fostering a habit of ethical mindfulness.
- Start a book club focused on translated classics to appreciate how modern language can revitalize ancient texts. Choose a different translation of a classic work each month, like Bang's version of Dante's epic, and discuss how the language changes your understanding and connection to the themes.
- Create a personal "[restricted term], Purgatorio, Paradiso" roadmap to evaluate and imp ...
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Bang's Journey In Completing the Divine Comedy Trilogy
The task of translating Dante's Divine Comedy has captivated Bang over the past two decades, her dedication unfolding alongside a global pandemic that spurred her completion of the Paradiso trilogy, fueled by her own curiosity and a sense of duty.
Pandemic-Inspired Bang Overcomes Hesitation to Translate Entire Paradiso Trilogy
During the uniquely solitary time of the pandemic, Bang decided to translate Paradiso, propelled by her desire to discover Dante’s conclusion to the trilogy. Although she had previously read [restricted term] and Purgatorio, it was only after commencing Paradiso that she felt compelled to translate the entire work. Her resolve to finish what she started was strengthened by her immersion into Dante's vision.
Bang Completed the Project Out of Duty and Curiosity to See how Dante's Journey Would Unfold
Bang's impetus to translate the Divine Comedy emerged from a blend of responsibility and curiosity. She needed to see the entirety of Dante's journ ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Bang's Journey In Completing the Divine Comedy Trilogy
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Actionables
- Explore a long-term passion project by dedicating 20 minutes each day to it, similar to how Bang committed over two decades to translating Dante's work. Start with something that intrigues you, like learning a new language, practicing an instrument, or researching a historical period. The key is consistency; set a timer and focus solely on this project during those 20 minutes every day.
- Use a significant event or period, like the pandemic for Bang, as a catalyst to start a new creative endeavor. This could be writing a short story, starting a blog about a topic you're passionate about, or even beginning a new art project. The idea is to channel your experiences and emotions from the event into something constructive and personally meaningful.
- Reflect on a recent accomplishment and consider ...
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