Shakespeare in Translation

Shakespeare in Translation: Coriolan en Français

Dr. Marie Roche

Prerequisite: Conversational college-level French is required. The class will be conducted entirely in French. A bilingual edition of Coriolanus, translated by Jean-Michel Déprats, will be provided to all participants.

Course Description:

This course invites students to engage deeply with Shakespeare’s Coriolanus through the lens of translation, exploring how language shapes meaning, emotion, and cultural resonance. By reading selected passages in both English and French, we will investigate how translation serves not just as a linguistic exercise but as an interpretive act that bridges—and sometimes widens—cultural and historical gaps.

Key questions will guide our discussions: How do we experience Shakespeare’s text when it’s no longer in its original language? What is gained or lost in translation—whether in terms of rhythm, wordplay, humor, or cultural nuance? How do translators navigate the challenge of rendering Elizabethan English into contemporary French while preserving Shakespeare’s poetic and rhetorical richness?

Students will participate in close readings, comparative analyses, and group discussions to unpack the choices made by translators like Jean-Michel Déprats. We will explore how translation affects tone, character, and meaning and consider the broader role of translation in disseminating Shakespeare’s works across time and cultures. This course is designed for students interested in literature, language, translation studies, and performance, offering a unique opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s enduring influence through the dynamic interplay of languages.

📅 Dates: October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (5 weeks)
⏰ Time: 3 PM–4:30 PM
📍 Format: Zoom
💵 $100-$200 Sliding Scale ***(Class free of charge for those who have registered for the semester see Fall Program 2025 )***