Bacchae

Description

This translation is intended primarily for classroom use. It is aimed first of all at being clear and true to the basic meaning of the text. After that Paul Woodruff has tried to bring across some of the beauty of poetry given the chorus as well as the rhetorical power and cleverness of the dialogue and speeches. The translation of this play through manuscript is unusually troublesome; many lines seem to have fallen out during copying and storage over the centuries and many errors have been introduced Although the author has supplied a few lines to fill small gaps where the meaning is obvious, he has not devised speeches to make up for the lost passages at the end; instead the author has included an appendix with the main evidence that pertains to them.

Euripides; Translated by Paul Woodruff

[Woodruff's translation] is clear, fluent, and vigorous, well thought out, readable and forceful. The rhythms are right, ever-present but not too insistent or obvious. It can be spoken instead of read and so is viable as an acting version; and it keeps the lines of the plot well focused. The Introduction offers a good survey of critical approaches. The notes at the foot of the page are suitably brief and nonintrusive and give basic information for the non-specialist. --Charles Segal, Harvard University This is a very useful edition, excellent for classroom purposes. The translation is clear and lively, and several students commented on how much they enjoyed it. The introduction provides an excellent overview of the issues in the play, as well as of earlier scholarship, making it a good resource for more advanced classes. The cover photo is an added bonus and provided the starting point for stimulating class discussion. --James B. Rives, York University An excellent translation which captures Bacchae's combination of colloquial and lyric language. The Notes and Introduction are also very helpful. --Mary-Kay Gamel, University of California, Santa Cruz