Translating Moliere for the English-speaking Stage: The Role of Verse and Rhyme

This book explores Moliere's English-language stage translations, highlighting the importance of rhyme and verse forms, the translator's creative work, and the changing relationship with source texts. It uses computer-aided analysis to demonstrate the role of prosody in verse translation and explores the interplay between translation and source text. It also considers translations as texts in and of themselves and the translator as a more visible, creative agent in shaping the voice of these texts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 08 January 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into a critical examination of the body of English language translations of Moliere's theatrical works, highlighting the significance of rhyme and verse forms, the creative prowess of the translators, and the evolving dynamics between source texts and their interpretations. It challenges prevailing notions about Moliere's theatrical legacy and the prevalence of comedy in his plays, emphasizing the remarkable surge in English language translations for the stage that has emerged since the 1950s. Through the use of a computer-aided method of analysis, Ploix explores the intricate role of prosody in verse translation for the stage, showcasing how translators employ self-consciously comic rhyme and conspicuous verse forms to bring Moliere's works to life on the stage. The book also delves into the interplay between translation and source text, examining how the stage influences the mitigation of formal infelicities that may arise during the translation process. By treating translations as texts in their own right and the translator as a more visible and creative agent in shaping the voice of these texts, Ploix sets the stage for similar methods of analysis to be applied to the works of other canonical playwrights. This book will be of immense interest to students and scholars in translation studies, adaptation studies, and theatre studies, offering valuable insights into the complexities of translating Moliere's theatrical masterpieces and their impact on the broader theatrical landscape.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367506599