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Hamlets monologue in a revised german translation

(Hamlets Monolg in einer überarbeiteten deutschen Übersetzung)

As a follow-up to this article, here’s a revised translation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a compromise between keeping the content translated as accurate as possible and not omitting anything on one hand and on the other maintaining Schlegels composition and syntax. Obviously, the lyric metre had to be ignored.

Zu sein oder nicht zu sein, das ist die Frage:
Ob´s edler im Gemüt, die Pfeil´ und Schleudern
Des wütenden Geschicks zu erleiden, oder,
Sich waffnend gegen eine See von Plagen,
Durch Widerstand zu enden. Sterben - schlafen - Read the rest of this entry »

Process and problems of a translation into German demonstrated at Hamlet

The most famous tragedy “Hamlet - Prince of Denmark” of William Shakespeare was, among other works of his, translated into German by August Wilhelm von Schlegel at the beginning of the 19th century. (The translations of the remaining works were later finished by Johann Ludwig Tieck and his daughter Dorothea Tieck.) The Schlegel/Tieck editions are till today by far the most recognized translations of the works of William Shakespeare into german language. Because it was done in such a skilled and aesthetic manner, Shakespeare is regarded as third german classic master after Goethe and Schiller. Read the rest of this entry »