An Analysis of Ezra Pound’s The Seafarer

Since its appearance, Pound's translation of the Old English poem, The Seafarer, has occupied a significant place i

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An Analysis of Ezra Pound’s The Seafarer

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An Analysis of Ezra Pound's The Seafarer by Robert Michael Yunk

A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts

Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida August 2001

An Analysis of Ezra Pound's The Seafarer by Robert Michael Yunk This thesis was prepared under the direction of the candidate's thesis advisor, Dr. Mary Faraci , Department of English, and has been approved by the members of his supervisory committee. It was submitted to the faculty of The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and was accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE:

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Chairman, Department of English

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Acknowledgements Although my name is on this thesis, it would have been impossible to complete without the encouragement and support of several people. I would like to extend my appreciation to my family and dearest friends .

I would like to especially recognize my parents and sisters who have supported me throughout. In addition , I thank Patricia Micolta for her unyielding confidence in me.

I extend many heartfelt thanks to my thesis committee and especially to Dr. Mary Faraci for her helpful guidance in this project.

Thank you all very much.

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ABSTRACT

Author:

Robert Michael Yunk

Title:

An Analysis of Ezra Pound's The Seafarer

Institution:

Florida Atlantic University

Thesis Advisor:

Dr. Mary Faraci

Degree:

Master of Arts

Year:

2001

Since its appearance, Pound's translation of the Old English poem, The Seafarer, has occupied a significant place in literary history and criticism. Among established descriptions in Anglo-Saxon studies, the original has been called "an indestructible tribute to the mariners of England." Pound's work adds to this tribute in a new way, making important statements concerning the history of language and literature of the sea. At the same time, Pound's translation explores the concept of literary "indestructibility," raising implications about how "texts" acquire meaning. By studying the different ways Pound attempted to bring Anglo-Saxon language to the present in The Seafarer, this thesis aspires to reckon with not only the categorical conflicts of Pound's early translation, but also the importance that it represents to Pound's means of redefining English poetry. This thesis conducts an analysis of Ezra Pound's 1911 translation of the Anglo-Saxon Seafarer poem emphasizing Pound's inventive use of unfamiliar language serving to challenge the accepted academic role of the translator.

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I dedicate this to my sisters Rebecca, Megan, Molly, and Betsy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .. ... . ..... . ... ..... . .. .. .... . .. . .... .. .... . ........ .... ... .... ...... .. .. .. .. . .. ....

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Chapter 1. The Seafarer' s Critical History.. . .......... . .... . ... . . ... ... ..... .. . ...... ....

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Chapter 2. The Seafarer and Mediating Voices.. . .. ... . .. . .. ... .. ... . . ... . .... .. .. . .. . ..

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Chapter 3. The Effects of Song in The Seafarer. ..... . ... . . ............. . ... . .. .. ........

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Chapter 4. Marginalizing Standard English in Pound' s Translation.. . .... . ..........

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Conclusion. . ... . .. . ..... .. .............. ......... . .. . ... . .. . ... . ..... . .... . ... . ......... . . .. ...

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Appendix.. ... ..... . . ........ .. ..... .. . .. . .... ... .. ....... .. ............. . ......... ... .. ...... . .

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Works Cited... . .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ....... .. ...... . ....... . ... ..... . ... . . .... .. .. .. .. .. . ... .... ..

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Introduction

In The Pound Era, Hugh Kenner identified that "it must have been about 1911 that Pound came to think of translation as a model for the poetic act: blood brought back to ghosts" (150). Pound was drafting a book on the poetry of Southern Europe as a development of his lecture series at the London Polytechnic, and when the book did not go to print due to the publisher's inopportune bankruptcy, A. R. Orage began publishing the book as a series called "I gather the Limbs of Osiris" in his weekly review The New

Age (Kenner 151). Though its subject matter revolved around Proven