Theory and Practice of Literary Translation

Readings in the history and theory of translation from the Renaissance to the present, along with selected major examples of literature in English translation. Students will write two papers: (1) an analysis of a theoretical issue in translation, with ample attention to the historical context of that issue; and (2) either a discussion of an important translation as a criticism of the original work; or a critical comparison of several translations of an original work; or an annotated translation into English of a literary text from a language familiar to the student.