George Chapman and Caroline Alexander bring distinct styles and interpretations to their translations of Homer's Iliad. Chapman's rendition, written in the 16th century, often displays an elaborate and archaic form of English, imbuing the epic’s passages with a sense of grandeur and dramatic flourish. For instance, he opens with a vivid depiction of Achilles' wrath that "impos'd infinite sorrows on the Greeks," introducing grandiose language that mirrors the epic scale of the conflict. This language serves to emphasize the divine and heroic aspects of the narrative, as seen in Chapman's portrayal of Athena’s encouragement to Diomedes, where the goddess critiques Ares' "inconstant, impious, mad" nature with forceful rhetoric, driving home the divine drama of the war. By contrast, Caroline Alexander’s translation, published in the 21st century, adopts a more contemporary and straightforward language. Her version provides clarity and accessibility, striving to retain the poetic intensity while making it comprehensible to modern readers. The opening lines of her translation echo the fury of Achilles, but do so with a focus on the consequences of his wrath, introducing a streamlined approach. When portraying Athena speaking to Diomedes, Alexander maintains a narrative clarity and focus on the thematic elements, highlighting Ares as a “madman, created for evil.” This approach fosters an immediate understanding of the plot and characters, contrasting with Chapman’s more florid and archaic style. Both translations provide valuable insights into the Iliad, with Chapman’s version offering a more ornamental take, whereas Alexander’s work prioritizes clarity and directness.
Achilles' baneful wrath resound, O Goddess, that impos'd
Infinite sorrows on the Greeks, and many brave souls loos'd
From breasts heroic; sent them far to that invisible cave
That no light comforts; and their limbs to dogs and vultures gave:
To all which Jove's will gave effect; from whom first strife begun
Betwixt Atrides, king of men, and Thetis' godlike son.
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.