Robert Fagles and Herbert Jordan offer two distinct interpretations of the illustrious text of the **Iliad** by Homer, each capturing the epic's dynamics through their own unique lens. Fagles’s translation is renowned for its powerful and evocative language. He begins with the word "Rage," setting a forceful tone from the outset that echoes throughout his narrative. This choice underscores the emotional intensity and foreboding nature of the epic. For example, in Book 5, Athena's encouragement of Diomedes is imbued with a vivid energy that highlights the chaotic and fervent spirit of battle, with references to Ares as "the manic, born for disaster, double-dealing, lying two-face god." Fagles’s style often leans towards dramatic expression, crafting a looming sense of doom and grandeur in passages like Book 21, where even the mighty Achilles reflects on his mortality with a somber acknowledgment of fate. In contrast, Herbert Jordan’s translation provides a more straightforward and restrained interpretation. His version of the opening lines is succinct, focusing on the "anger" of Achilles and the "untold ordeals" faced by the Greeks. Jordan’s language is more concise, which results in a different rhythm and focus. In Book 5, Athena's words to Diomedes convey succinct pragmatism, with Ares being described as a "frenzied two-faced pest." This choice of words, while still critical, presents a slightly less charged depiction than Fagles’. Similarly, Jordan's rendition of Achilles' reflection on fate, such as in Book 21, captures the inevitability of destiny with a straightforward clarity: "dogged fate and death await me too." Jordan’s translation tends to emphasize clarity and directness, aligning with his overall approach to convey the story’s unfolding events in a manner that’s accessible and clear.
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, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger,
ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals,
consigned to Hades countless valiant souls,
heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs
or feast for vultures. Zeus's will was done
from when those two first quarreled and split apart,
the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles.