Fret, Magdalena
PhD thesis topic: ‘Cultural sustainability of translations, using Homer’s *Iliad* as an example.’ ( working title)
Contact details at the University of Würzburg:
Nachwuchsgruppe Sustainability in Translation
Emil-Hilb-Weg 23
Campus Hubland Nord
97074 Würzburg
Email Ms Fret
Primary supervisor:
Second supervisor:
Dr Hilary Brown (University of Birmingham)
Class at the Graduate School: “Philosophy, Languages, Arts”
Doctoral candidate at the Graduate School from the winter semester 2026/27.
Abstract:
In my doctoral thesis, I examine German-language translations of the Iliad produced between the 17th and 21st centuries. In the first part, I begin by conducting a qualitative analysis of the production context of selected translations, as well as the academic and social backgrounds of the translators, in order to contextualise the translations culturally, socially and politically. Furthermore, where possible, the formal and linguistic characteristics of each translation will be highlighted.
The second part focuses on the reception of the translations. To this end, reviews, prefaces and introductions are first examined qualitatively to determine how the translations were received by contemporary audiences and how their perception has changed over the centuries. Using methods from the digital humanities, I will then carry out a quantitative edition analysis. The aim is to determine when, how often, in what print run and in what format the individual translations were published, in order to reconstruct trends in the popularity and relevance of the various translations over the centuries. Finally, a citation analysis will reveal which readership primarily engaged with the translations.
The methods described are intended to reveal which translations have become embedded in the cultural memory of the German-speaking readership and have thus been received with particular enduring impact, and, where possible, to identify the factors that have contributed to this.
