Robert Fagles and Robert Graves offer distinct translations of Homer's Iliad that reflect their individual stylistic choices while conveying the epic's central themes. Fagles's translation is known for its dynamic, powerful language. He uses strong imagery and a modern cadence, as evident in lines like "Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles," capturing the ferocity and the tragic consequences of Achilles’ wrath. Moreover, Fagles’s version emphasizes the interplay of fate and glory, such as in his portrayal of Achilles contemplating his choices: "If I hold out here...my glory never dies." This focus on grandeur and inevitability is characteristic of Fagles's rendering, aiming to resonate with contemporary audiences through resonant and forceful language. In contrast, Robert Graves's translation takes on a more lyrical, almost elegiac tone, which highlights the poetic nature of the ancient text. Graves opens with "Sing, Mountain Goddess, sing through me," immediately setting a mythic and somewhat formal mood. His language often conveys a sense of timelessness and natural cycles, as shown in the comparison of men to leaves: "All forest leaves are born to die; All mortal men the same." Graves's choice to embrace a more traditional and rhythmic diction retains the classical feel of the original story while also bringing a unique elegance to the narrative. His focus on themes of mortality and fate is clear in the lines concerning Achilles's destiny, where he includes Thetis's prophecy in a more structured, almost theatrical form. Both translations, while different in tone and style, offer profound insights into the timeless narrative of the Iliad.
Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion,
feasts for the dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end.
Sing, Mountain Goddess, sing through me
That anger which most ruinously
Inflamed Achilles, Peleus' son,
And which, before the tale was done,
Had glutted Hell with champions—bold,
Stern spirits by the thousandfold;
Ravens and dogs their corpses ate
For thus did Zeus, who watched their fate,
See his resolve, first taken when
Proud Agamemnon, King of men,
An insult on Achilles cast,
Achieve accomplishment at last.