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Version in English Poetry of Alonso de Ercilla Zúñiga's La Araucana

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Published in The Araucaniad: A Version In English Poetry Of Alonso De Ercilla Y Zuniga S La Araucana

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Alonso de Ercilla Zúñiga's La Araucana is an epic poem that tells the story of the Spanish conquest of Chile. It was first published in 1569 and has since been translated into many languages. This article discusses the different English translations of La Araucana and their relative merits.

The Araucaniad: A Version in English Poetry of Alonso de Ercilla y Zuniga's La Araucana

by Jim Hinckley

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2360 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	333 pages

Background

La Araucana is a long poem, consisting of over 37,000 lines. It is divided into three parts, each of which tells a different part of the story of the Spanish conquest of Chile. The first part tells of the early Spanish expeditions to Chile and the founding of the city of Santiago. The second part tells of the Araucanian War, a long and bloody conflict between the Spanish and the indigenous Mapuche people. The third part tells of the eventual Spanish victory and the establishment of Spanish rule in Chile.

La Araucana is a complex and ambitious poem. It is a historical narrative, but it is also a work of literature. Ercilla Zúñiga uses a variety of literary devices, including simile, metaphor, and personification, to create a vivid and engaging account of the Spanish conquest of Chile.

English Translations

There have been a number of English translations of La Araucana. The first translation was published in 1596 by John Frampton. Frampton's translation is a faithful rendering of the original Spanish text, but it is written in a somewhat archaic style.

A more modern translation was published in 1965 by Walter Owen. Owen's translation is more readable than Frampton's, but it is also less faithful to the original Spanish text.

The most recent English translation of La Araucana was published in 2003 by Jonathan Gillingham. Gillingham's translation is a compromise between the faithfulness of Frampton's translation and the readability of Owen's translation.

Comparison of Translations

The three English translations of La Araucana discussed in this article each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Frampton's translation is the most faithful to the original Spanish text, but it is also the most difficult to read. Owen's translation is more readable, but it is less faithful to the original Spanish text. Gillingham's translation is a compromise between the faithfulness of Frampton's translation and the readability of Owen's translation.

The best English translation of La Araucana depends on the reader's individual preferences. Readers who are interested in a faithful rendering of the original Spanish text should choose Frampton's translation. Readers who are interested in a more readable translation should choose Owen's translation. Readers who are looking for a compromise between faithfulness and readability should choose Gillingham's translation.

Alonso de Ercilla Zúñiga's La Araucana is a major work of Spanish literature. It is a complex and ambitious poem that tells the story of the Spanish conquest of Chile. There have been a number of English translations of La Araucana, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The best English translation of La Araucana depends on the reader's individual preferences.

The Araucaniad: A Version in English Poetry of Alonso de Ercilla y Zuniga's La Araucana

by Jim Hinckley

5 out of 5