This is a specialized course in which students, having completed the Literary Translation English-Greek I and II courses, delve deeper into the most demanding field of poetry translation, which presents the greatest difficulties but also creative possibilities. Students become familiar with the particular nature of poetic language and translation constraints and choices through practical application that begins with the analysis of classical and contemporary poetic works and leads to theoretical understanding of creative processes. At the same time, they are trained in the use of advanced technological tools specifically adapted for literary analysis and creation, including generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications and corpus tools that enable the exploration of new forms of creative expression.

Specific objectives of the course include: in-depth understanding of the peculiarities of poetry translation (meter, rhythm, imagery, sound patterns); familiarization with the work of important anglophone poet-translators (Ezra Pound, Robert Lowell, Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Christopher Logue) and analysis of their translation philosophies; understanding processes of intertextuality and poetic dialogue that approach creative writing; exploration of self-translation as a creative practice and theoretical framework; production of artistically valuable translations through strategic use of modern digital tools and AI; development of critical ability to evaluate literary translations; and preparation for the new challenges and possibilities of literary translation in the digital age, where technology becomes a collaborator in the creative process rather than simply a tool.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have achieved the following learning objectives:

• Understanding of the peculiarities of poetry translation and the translation constraints and possibilities it presents
• Analysis and evaluation of translation choices in poetic texts using modern technological tools
• Production of creative translations of poetic works from English to Greek and vice versa
• Familiarization with the work of important anglophone poets (Ezra Pound, Robert Lowell, Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Christopher Logue) and their translation practices
• Understanding of processes of intertextuality and poetic dialogue in translation
• Exploration of self-translation as a creative practice and theoretical framework
• Strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications for the analysis of poetic texts and the production of alternative translations

Week 1: Introduction to Poetry Translation
Week 2: Rhythm as Cultural Memory
Week 3: Image as Intercultural Code
Week 4: Sound as Translation Identity
Week 5: Pound and Creative Reconstruction
Week 6: Lowell and Translation Freedom
Week 7: Hughes and Creative Adaptation
Week 8: Heaney and Cultural Bridging
Week 9: Christopher Logue and Translation as Creative Work
Week 10: Poetic Dialogues and Creative Writing
Week 11: Self-Translation as Bilingual Identity
Week 12: From Greek to English - Constraints and Choices
Week 13: Machine Translation and Collaborative Creation

Core Bibliography - Literary Translation Theory

• Bassnett, S. (2013). Translation Studies (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203488232
• Venuti, L. (2017). The translator's invisibility: A history of translation (Routledge Translation Classics ed.). Routledge.
• Lefevere, A. (2016). Translation, rewriting, and the manipulation of literary fame (Routledge Translation Classics ed.). Routledge.
• Jones, F. R. (2012). Poetry translating as expert action: Processes, priorities and networks. John Benjamins.
• Vagenas, Nasos (1989) Poetry and Translation. Athens: Stigmi
• Berman, Antoine (2005) Translation and the Letter (trans. Cecil Margellou). Athens: Metaichmio.
• Connolly, David (1998) Meta-Poiesis: 6 (+1) Studies on Poetry Translation. Athens: Ypsilon.

Poet-Translators (Primary Sources)

• Pound, E. (1954). Literary Essays. New Directions.
• Lowell, R. (1961). Imitations. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
• Hughes, T. (1997). Tales from Ovid. Faber & Faber.
• Heaney, S. (2000). Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. Norton.
• Logue, C. (2001). War Music: An Account of Homer's Iliad. Faber & Faber.

Face-to-face/Guided, collaborative translating in class (students first prepare translations at home), working with texts of increasing difficulty and length, and across several genres. In parallel, we engage with several critical and theoretical texts in translation studies and comparative literature, also investigating thoroughly a range of paratexts produced by the literary translator (introductions, biographical notes, afterwords, etc). Study material and updates are further provided through the Department’s e-class platform.

Use of ICT in teaching

In addition to weekly literary translation tasks, students are asked to submit a semester assignment. They can choose from several options: a translation, or re-translation and a commentary focusing on problems encountered during the process, and further addressing productive relationships between the theory and practice of (literary) translation; an essay comparing two or more existing translations of the same text; or a longer research piece, focusing on a particular area in the study of literary translation which counts towards their obligations for both literary translation 7^th semester courses in this language pair. A presentation during the final weeks originating in group study contributes to 20% of the final mark.