Considerations on the Use of Translated Poems in EFL Settings

Abstract

To this point few empirical studies have examined the reactions of students when translated poems are used in EFL literature classrooms. In a previous study (Chesnokova et al., 2017), we noticed that opting for translations comes with a price, and reactions will vary. In this chapter, we offer a detailed line-by-line analysis of Poe’s ‘The Lake’ translated into three different languages so as to check whether these differences may be attributed to the translators’ choices. Thus versions from renowned translators are selected and compared with the original poem by means of stylistic analysis. The results are then checked against reactions of 500 students of Language and Literature. This chapter argues that each translation indeed creates a singular context that may account for the differences. We conclude that teachers of literature should be made aware that the unique context the translators’ stylistic options create may strongly impact upon students’ reading experiences.

Appendices

Appendix

The Texts

The Lake

To –

Verse

Verse In spring of youth it was my lot To haunt of the wide world a spot The which I could not love the less— So lovely was the loneliness Of a wild lake, with black rock bound, And the tall pines that towered around.

Verse

Verse But when the Night had thrown her pall Upon that spot, as upon all, And the mystic wind went by Murmuring in melody— Then—ah then I would awake To the terror of the lone lake.

Verse

Verse Yet that terror was not fright, But a tremulous delight— A feeling not the jewelled mine Could teach or bribe me to define— Nor Love—although the Love were thine.

Verse

Verse Death was in that poisonous wave, And in its gulf a fitting grave For him who thence could solace bring To his lone imagining Whose solitary soul could make An Eden of that dim lake.

Translation into Portuguese

O Lago

Para –

Verse

Verse Tive eu na mocidade ocasião De achar do mundo vasto um lugar O qual eu não podia mais amar… Porquanto me encantou a solidão De um agreste lago por penedos Circundado, e por altos arvoredos.

Verse

Verse Mas quando a noite o seu sudário Deitava em tal lugar, e em tudo à volta, E o vento misterioso andava à solta… E o vento um canto murmurava… Ah… era então que eu despertava Para o terror do lago solitário.

Verse

Verse Contudo tal terror não me assustava, Mas com tremores me deleitava… Um sentimento tal cujo mistério Excede mil jazigos de minério… E mesmo o teu Amor… que eu cobiçava.

Verse

Verse No veneno da onda havia dolo, E em seu vórtice um esquife apropriado A quem aí buscava o consolo De um espírito inventivo desterrado, Erguendo, em seu delírio transviado, Um Éden no sombrio e torvo lago.

Translation into Ukrainian

Oзepo

Verse

Verse Я нa cвiтaнкy юниx днiв Бaжaнням дивним пaлeнiв Ha тиxe oзepo пiти, Дe мiй пpитyлoк caмoти Пocepeд чopниx, дикиx гip Oбcтaв глyxий cocнoвий бip.

Verse

Verse I тiльки нiч cтeлилa знoв Ha вce нaвкoлo cвiй пoкpoв, Як paптoм вiтep пpилiтaв, Taємнe щocь гiлкaм шeптaв… Toдi бyдивcь y гpyдяx жax, Щo жив y вoдax y вiтpax.

Verse

Verse Ta нi, нe жax, a вiдчyття Якoгocь caмoзaбyття, Щo нe cпpийняв би, нe втaю, Aнi зa paйcькy oзiю, Hi нaвiть зa любoв твoю.

Verse

Verse Я знaв – oчiкyє зaгин, Moгилa в мopoцi глибин Toгo, xтo би xoтiв знaйти Пpитyлoк в цapcтвi caмoти, Дyшi вiдpaдy вiд cкopбoт B Eдeмi тeмниx вoд.

Translation into Russian

Oзepo

К –

Verse

Verse Meня, нa yтpe жизни, влeк B пpocтopнoм миpe yгoлoк, Чтo я любил, любил дo днa! Былa пpeкpacнa тишинa Угpюмыx вoд и чepныx cкaл, Чтo бop тopжecтвeнный oбcтaл.

Verse

Verse Кoгдa жe Hoчь, цapицa cнoв, Ha вce бpocaлa cвoй пoкpoв И вeтp тaинcтвeнный в тeни Poптaл мeлoдию: ycни! — Я пpoбyждaлcя вдpyг мeчтoй Для yжaca cтpaны пycтoй.

Verse

Verse Ho этoт yжac нe был cтpax, Был тpeпeтный вocтopг в мeчтax: He выpaзить eгo пoлнeй Зa пышный блecк Гoлкoнды вceй, Зa дap Любви — xoтя б твoeй!

Verse

Verse Ho Cмepть cкpывaлacь тaм, в вoлнax Tлeтвopныx, был в ниx capкoфaг — Для вcex, ктo cтaл иcкaть бы тaм Пoкoя oдинoким cнaм, Ктo cкopбнoй гpeзoй — мpaчный кpaй Пpeoбpaзил бы в cвeтлый paй.