Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Fall 2024
Abstract
This research poster aims to explore two English translations of the ancient Roman epic “The Aeneid” written by the poet Virgil. The two versions that were chosen for analysis are John Dryden’s translation from 1697 compared with Robert Fagles’ translation from 2006. This poster seeks to use sentiment analysis and word frequency analysis tools to analytically compare the two versions of the epic. From the results, the older translation appeared to use more formal wording and “dramatic” storytelling structures compared to a more “accurate” rendition of the epic translated using modern language. The sentiment analysis result also demonstrates greater sentiment shifts in the older translation. As a result, newer translation can be concluded as a more direct approach to translating as opposed to one that is more poetic and focused on emotions.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Eric and Elkins, Katherine, "The Evolution of the Translations of Virgil’s “The Aeneid”: An Analytical Comparison of Robert Faglesand John Dryden's Translations Using Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling" (2024). IPHS 200: Programming Humanity. Paper 69.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/dh_iphs_prog/69
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.