Question

Which is most important when a translator is working on a Rilke poem?

1)keeping the rhyme intact


2)capturing the meaning of the poet's words


3)capturing the meaning of the first two stanzas


4)keeping the length the same as the original German poem

Answer 1

i would do number 2 because that is what most poems do right

Answer 2

Translating a poem is without a doubt a really complex task. The rhyme, meter, length, and stanzas are aspects that construct the structure of a poem, however, poetry transmits ideas of all sorts in embellished language. It has been admitted by many a poet that the meaning of words is far more relevant than the stylistic conventions in a piece of poetry. A fine translation in verse is always welcome, but in the end the effective translation of words is better. The right answer is number 2.