Magin_Edward-thesis

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INTERPRETATION
POETRY
Critical essay in language of poem
Critical essay in another language
Prose translation
Verse translation (metapoem)
Imitation
Poem ‘about’ poem
Poem inspired by a poem
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Figure 1. Meta-literature concerning a poem
At the top end of the interpretation scale is the critical essay in the language of
poem. In such an essay the critic has complete freedom to bring extraneous information
into his or her interpretation. Additionally, the critic may write as much as desired to
express his or her interpretation of a poem, and such writing does not require any
translation of terms in the poem. Next down the scale is the critical essay in another
language. The writer of this critique begins to experience some constraints. While the
essay may still be written as long as is desired, this writer must contend with the task of
translation, finding terms suitable for terms in the original text. However, this critic may
still draw from extraneous sources. The next degree of constraints is found in the prose
translation. Here the writer must limit his or her interpretation to the words of the poem
itself, leaving extraneous information behind. The length of the product is therefore
limited. The prose product is still not a poem. Last on the interpretation scale is the verse
translation, or metapoem, which is the point at which interpretation and poetry scales
intersect. It is in the production of a metapoem that the metapoet, or translator-poet,
experiences the greatest constraints on both scales. The product is a poem (Holmes
1988:23). Prose translation and translation into verse form are discussed in more detail in
sections § 2.2.4.1.1 and § 2.2.4.1.2, respectively.