Caroline Alexander's translation of the *Iliad* brings a fresh perspective to the classic text with a modern yet faithful tone, capturing the essence of the epic while making it accessible to contemporary readers. Her translation focuses on clarity and directness, rendering the wrath of Achilles in a way that emphasizes emotional intensity, as seen in her opening lines: "Wrath—sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus' son Achilles." This approach allows readers to feel the raw human emotion and consequence, emphasizing the havoc wrought upon the Achaeans. Alexander's choice of words in passages like Athena encouraging Diomedes showcases a balanced blend of poeticism and straightforward language, making the divine interactions and heroics accessible yet impactful. Her rendition of the passage on life cycles resembles the natural imagery Homer invoked, while still resonating with modern sensibilities. In contrast, A.T. Murray's translation of the *Iliad* adheres more closely to a formal and classical style, reflecting the historical context of his work. Employing a more traditional diction, Murray captures the grandeur and solemnity of the original Greek text. His introduction of the epic offers a stately approach: "The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath," which maintains an air of majestic timelessness. Murray's translation of divine dialogues, like Athena's words to Diomedes, retains a formality that mirrors a more archaic English vernacular, creating a sense of authenticity and grandeur. His handling of metaphors, such as the generational cycle of leaves, stays true to Homeric form, offering an echo of the original's stylistic nuance. Overall, Murray's translation underscores the epic's historical richness, presenting it with a reverence for its classical roots.
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.
The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus came to fulfillment, from the time when first they parted in strife Atreus' son, king of men, and brilliant Achilles.