Caroline Alexander's translation of the "Iliad" captures the epic's tone with a focus on the gravity and grandeur of its themes. Her rendition begins by emphasizing the "ruinous wrath" of Achilles and its impact on the Achaeans, striking a formal and epic tone. Alexander's translation presents a rhythmic and measured style, particularly when portraying key moments such as Diomedes being encouraged by Athena: "Do not fear Ares on this account nor any other of the immortals; such an ally to you am I." Her choice of language often retains a more traditional and solemn feel, striving for a sense of timelessness in the narrative. When Achilles contemplates his fate in Book 9, Alexander highlights the weight of his choice, balancing between "undying" glory and his longing for life, emphasizing the internal conflict faced by the hero. Peter Green's translation of the "Iliad" offers a more contemporary voice, while still respecting the original text's grandeur. His opening lines, where he describes Achilles' wrath as "calamitous," set the tone for a translation that leans towards clarity and directness. In the scene where Athena speaks to Diomedes, Green uses phrases like "this raving madman, a sick piece of work" to depict the gods with vivid immediacy. Green's language offers more dynamic and modern phrasing, making the text accessible without losing its epic nature. In Book 9, when Achilles weighs his options between enduring renown and a long life, Green's use of phrases like "imperishable renown" and "fine renown will have perished" provides a clear, yet profound insight into Achilles' internal dilemma. Both translations offer unique approaches to Homer's epic, with Alexander emphasizing the formal and timeless nature of the text, while Green provides a more accessible and immediate rendition.
Wrath—sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus' son Achilles,
that inflicted woes without number upon the Achaeans,
hurled forth to Hades many strong souls of warriors
and rendered their bodies prey for the dogs,
for all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished;
sing from when they two first stood in conflict—
Atreus' son, lord of men, and godlike Achilles.
Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus's son's
calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians with countless ills—
many the valiant souls it saw off down to Hādēs,
souls of heroes, their selves1 left as carrion for dogs
and all birds of prey, and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled
from the first moment those two men parted in fury,
Atreus's son, king of men, and the godlike Achilles.