Question

The following lines are from poet William Cowper’s translation of the Iliad. They give his version of lines 27–28 of Selection 1.

. . . Loud was the din
Of the assembling thousands; groan’d the earth
When down they sat, and murmurs ran around.

How do Cowper’s lines differ from Wilson’s translation in lines 27–28, and what effect does the difference have on the tone of the passage?
A. Difference: Cowper’s translation uses inversion, whereas Wilson’s translation does not.
Effect: By emphasizing the descriptive words loud and groan’d, Cowper’s inversion adds a tone of wonder; Wilson’s tone is more matter-of-fact.
B. Difference: Cowper’s translation uses inversion, whereas Wilson’s translation does not.
Effect: By emphasizing the action words sat and ran, Cowper’s inversion adds a humorous tone; Wilson’s tone is more serious.
C. Difference: Cowper’s translation uses standard syntax, whereas Wilson’s translation uses inversion.
Effect: By emphasizing the descriptive words groaned and deafening, Wilson’s inversion adds a tone of warning; Cowper’s tone is more matter-of-fact.
D. Difference: Cowper’s translation uses standard syntax, whereas Wilson’s translation uses inversion.
Effect: By emphasizing the negative words chaos and noise, Wilson’s inversion adds a humorous tone; Cowper’s tone is more serious.

Answer 1

A.

Cowper uses poetic inversion ("Loud was the din," "groan'd the earth") where Wilson keeps ordinary word order. That inversion foregrounds the sound‑words ("loud," "groan'd"), heightening the drama/astonishment of the scene; Wilson's more regular syntax reads as plainer, more matter‑of‑fact.