English 1301 and British Literature

Requirements

Using a combination of the resources below and any you find on your own, translate The Wanderer from Old English into modern. You will want to do this translation with the same components present in yours as the translation examples provided below show, providing the original lines, a word-by-word interlinear glossing (where you write the definition of each word) of each line, and your final translation. Your translation will probably not look exactly like any other, since every translator makes different choices in how they interpret a text, but comparing yours to others will help you get a feel for meter as well as give you ideas for how to make a particular line work that you may have found tricky.

Individual Components

Every student will perform the following:

Interlinear glossing, formatted with the following components for the entirety of your section of the poem. You will do this for every word of every line, even if the word appears elsewhere in your section. You will not put your name, class information, or a title anywhere in this document. You will put the key your group collectively decides upon that describes how you differentiate the original text, the glossing, and the translated lines from one another (below, the key I use is only an example - each group is free to create any key they wish) above the first line of your section, and you will use that formatting in your document.  (25 points):

Key:

Original Old English text

Interlinear glossing

Translated line

1) Oft him anhaga    are gebideð This line must contain the line number and the original Old English text. Every line of your section must be enumerated.

Oft: adv. often, frequently

Him: 3rd person pro. dsm, dsn "with him" (or an indirect object)

Anhaga: weak m noun. ns. solitary one, loner, solitary warrior, lone hedge warrior, lone shield-warrior, solitary shield-warrior, grasshopper, hermit, one-dweller.

Are: strong m noun. ds. messenger, servant, angel, apostle, herald.

        strong f noun. a/g/ds. oar. honor, worth, dignity, glory, respect, reverence, grace, favor, prosperity, benefit, help, mercy, pity, landed, property, possessions, revenue, ecclesiastical, living, benefits, ownership, privilege.

        strong n noun. ds. brass, copper, ore.

        weak f noun. ns. honor, honesty, favor, benefit, pity, mercy.

        weak v. 1si, sub s, imp s. to honor, respect, endow, regard, care for, favor, be merciful to, spare, pardon.

Gebideð: strong v. 3s pres indic. Pl pres. indic. seek, find, to stay, continue, live, remain, delay, to wait for, await, expect, abide, tarry, look for, endure, experience, find, attain, obtain, to die.

A completed translation for each line of your section, added to the end of your glossing document. You may change or remove punctuation, if desired. You may add words or take them out, as needed for your section the poem to make sense. You may move lines or half lines around if it improves the translated line, but you must notate that you have done so. When you are finished, you will compare your translation to three (3) other translations you found online, and you will adjust (or not) your translation to reflect increased understanding of the underlying meaning of those lines. You are not obligated to maintain the original meter or alliterative scheme. You may convert your section to prose if you prefer that over the poetic form. All other directions from the section above must be maintained in this new version of the document. (25 points):

1) Oft him anhaga    are gebideð This line must contain the line number and the original Old English text.

Oft: adv. often, frequently

Him: 3rd person pro. dsm, dsn "with him" (or an indirect object)

Anhaga: weak m noun. ns. solitary one, loner, solitary warrior, lone hedge warrior, lone shield-warrior, solitary shield-warrior, grasshopper, hermit, one-dweller.

Are: strong m noun. ds. messenger, servant, angel, apostle, herald.

        strong f noun. a/g/ds. oar. honor, worth, dignity, glory, respect, reverence, grace, favor, prosperity, benefit, help, mercy, pity, landed, property, possessions, revenue, ecclesiastical, living, benefits, ownership, privilege.

        strong n noun. ds. brass, copper, ore.

        weak f noun. ns. honor, honesty, favor, benefit, pity, mercy.

        weak v. 1si, sub s, imp s. to honor, respect, endow, regard, care for, favor, be merciful to, spare, pardon.

Gebideð: strong v. 3s pres indic. Pl pres. indic. seek, find, to stay, continue, live, remain, delay, to wait for, await, expect, abide, tarry, look for, endure, experience, find, attain, obtain, to die.

Often, the solitary warrior   seeks favor This line demonstrates your interpretation of this line of the poem.

An essay in a separate document (translator's notes) (50 points):

Each student will also write a 750+ word essay narrating their experience with this project. You should include moments of triumph and frustration, what you learned, why you did or did not enjoy this project, and things you would have done differently if you had a second opportunity to do this project. Write this as though you were explaining this experience to friends through a blog. Informal Englishes may be used, but slang must include a footnote with the term's definition. You may complain about problems you had in your group. You may swear if needed or desired. No visit to a tutoring center or upload to Upswing is required for this essay. Name your translator's notes document according to the following model: firstname_lastname.doc or firstname_lastname.docx and submit it to Canvas.

A group presentation (50 points):

Each group will present their translation to the entire class.

PROJECT MANAGERS ONLY:

You will upload the same glossing and lines documents of your section alone to Canvas, as per the instructions above. To format the compiled translation document and turn it in with your essay, please do the following:

1. Write your essay, as per the directions above. After doing so, you will insert a "page break" into your document and write a cover page with the names of every student in your group and the lines they translated, and the course details: English 1301/English 1302, the semester and days of the week your class meets, and the due date for this project. Only the project manager should submit the assembled, completed project to Canvas. All students will upload their individual glossing, final lines, and translator notes to Canvas on the dates listed in Canvas and the syllabus. The file name for the compiled translation should be modelled as below, using the semester, year, class, meeting days, and either RT for regular term or SS for second start, and the initials of the project manager: Fall2015.1302MW.11-1230.PM-AF.docx, .

 

Ideas and Tips

1. Each group will work collaboratively, breaking up the work into equal parts each student will translate. Meet up often outside of class to help push each other to progress, and to troubleshoot potential issues. If there is an uneven distribution, project managers will not be assigned extra lines.


2. Set up a social media group (What's App, Facebook, etc) for the class/class translations, and exchange phone numbers and email addresses on the first day your group meets. This is an easy and efficient way to help one another, to pool resources, and to have someone to vent to when translating is difficult or frustrating.

3. Each project manager will set up a GoogleDoc for their group's translation. This will allow everyone to see, in real time, what has been uploaded and what is still missing, as well as streamlining the process for each group's compiler. Each group member will copy and paste their work into this document, using the key the group has agreed upon. The project manager will copy and paste the full translation directly into the essay, as per the directions above, after ensuring all lines conform to the agreed upon key and formatting I have requested.

4. Consult me to resolve arguments you cannot solve on your own.

5. Use respectful English in your essay, but do not worry about using formal, academic English.

6. No works cited page is needed.

Good luck!