76-363 Reading in Forms: Poetry

9 units, Carnegie Mellon University

This course will serve as an introduction to the theory and practice of literary translation. We will examine the concepts of fidelity to the original, authorial intention, cultural background, the nuance of tone and style, and the politics of translation. Texts will include foundational essays on theory and a variety of short literary works in translation. We will look at multiple translations of the same piece and will work to analyze where translations succeed and fail. We'll welcome several contemporary translators and publishers of literary texts to class, and a final project will consist of either a self-directed project in literary translation or an essay. Working knowledge of a language other than English is helpful but is not required for this course.

Prerequisites: 76-101 or 76-102 or (76-106 and 76-107) or (76-106 and 76-108) or (76-107 and 76-108)

Offered: Fall 2026, Fall 2025

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