II. Résumé making (text compression).

Listen to the recorded text, make notes and write a résumé in Russian /Ukrainian/ English.

(Reduce the text to the core, and then develop it back without consulting the text).

Translate into English using text compression (omit redundant words, convert nominative structure into verbal, use noun clusters etc.)

First, do it in writing; then orally, observe transformations in translation.

III. Text development.

Develop a text from the given core (first do it in one language in writing, then with interpretation – orally).

IV. Sight translation practice.

Pay attention to precision information (proper names, geographical names, dates) and correct word order. Suggest background information required for a proper translation of the text.

V. Check yourself (your translation) against the pattern translation version.

Aristophanes

(ca. 445 – 385 B. C.)

Ancient Greek Playwright

In the 5^th century B. C. there was no television, radio or newspapers, and the theatre performed their functions in Greece. Theatrical contests – «dionicii» – were arranged in Athens. They took place once a year for three days from dawn till dusk. And every morning, having taken food and a cushion to sit on almost the whole Athens gathered for the performance. The amphitheater accommodated three thousand spectators. People sympathized with the characters of a tragedy till noon, and closer toward evening they roared with laughter at the tricks of comedy characters.

Out of all the literary works of classical comedy writers only Aristophanes’s works came to us. He is called «the father of comedy» and one of the first literary critics. Besides, he is also called an «ill-bred favorite of muses» as his characters’ cues in his works sometimes seemed too harsh. Aristophanes used every means to make the audience laugh. However, one can see behind biting comments and blunt jokes of the poet in his comedies, his sincere desire to help people become better.

He hates the hated with all his heart,

He isn’t scared of true words.

The exact dates of Aristophanes’s birth as well as his death are unknown. Probably he was born in the year of 445 B. C.

There is a supposition that Aristophanes had either two, or three or four sons. Probably they wrote verses, maybe comedies in verse, thus continuing their father’s cause. One can say for sure only one thing the poet said himself – the fact that he was bald.

Aristophanes began writing comedies hardly being 20 – too early according to the standards of Athens.

At first he scoffed at his compatriots with youth extreme judgment: their frivolity, craven spirit and almost absurd credulity. Being as bold as brass in his language he also attacked mighty politicians. Plutarch wrote that while staging the comedy «Horseriders» all the actors flatly refused to play the part satirically describing the ruler of Athens, Cleon. And Aristophanes himself appeared on the stage wearing a mask of a mighty and vindictive politician. Everyone in Athens heard him making a confession:

Yes, I did steal.

Do you mean to say that you did not?

The insulted ruler Cleon accused the poet of illegally having the title of the citizen of Athens. At the trial Aristophanes quoted Homer to justify himself: «My mother assures me that this man is my father. But can I state the same thing if I had not seen the person who gave birth to me?» Aristophanes won the litigation. The residents of Athens recognized his right to criticism as they believed freedom of speech to be the basis of democracy.

But at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta the law was adopted on the limitation of personality ridicule. Alas! It did not help to conquer the Spartans. The War Aristophanes so passionately objected to brought a defeat to Athens.

The most famous comedies of Aristophanes preserved till present are «The Birds», «Lysistrata» and «The Frogs». Having become mature Aristophanes did not interfere into politics and turned his critical look to the men of science and art. He did not have any pity even for the great tragedians such as Aeschylus, Sophocles and especially Euripides. By the way, thanks to Aristophanes many people still believe that Euripides ended his days torn into parts by women. Though it was only a caustic joke brought to absurdity by Aristophanes.

In his comedy «The Clouds» Aristophanes dared to criticize Socrates himself:

The city must be mad to feed you,

The ulcer of the country,

You, who corrupt and deprave the young.

And though Aristophanes was not a cruel person his comedy «The Clouds» became one of the reasons for the tragic death of the philosopher Socrates. In the year of 399 B. C. the people»s assembly of Athens accused Socrates for «worshiping new divinities», «depraving young people» and sentenced him to death.

In his declining years Aristophanes became more cautious and turned to melodrama. The details of his final comedies remind of modern sentimental TV serials: a youth from a noble family tempts a simple young girl: then it turns out that the girl is of noble origin and that she was lost as a child, and that she was searched for a long time. And everything ends up in a happy wedding.

But at all events, till his last days Aristophanes firmly followed one principle: a poet is the teacher of citizens. In the comedy «The Frogs» he claims that poets are appreciated for:

…truthful speeches, for good advice and

Making the citizens of the native country

Better and cleverer and wise.

In due course the number of Aristophanes’s followers grew; there appear men of letters who make fellow-citizens wiser and better by means of laughter. They reach the viewers» hearts in their own way: television, radio and newspapers came to the rescue of ancient comedy.

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