Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone

[txgreekmann]

I am curious if anyone has read the Ancient Greek "translation" of the Harry Potter book. My main question is what is the level of Greek that it is written in, could a 1st year student understand it? Or does it take a more advanced knowledge to read it?

Thanks
Dave N.

[mraig]

I have read a bit of it. It's written to sound like Lucian. It's not too bad, but it would probably be pretty difficult for a 1st year student, because it's quite like real Greek - it's not just the English put into Greek with the same sentence structure and everything. I mean, it's not Thucydides or Aeschylus hard. But if you're looking for a first text to start with, there are better things (also keep in mind that there are no commentaries to help you with Harry Potter) - Herodotus would be my recommendation, or Homer or Plato or Xenophon or Lysias. The transition from the 1st year textbook to a "real" Greek text is tough (in my opinion) no matter what.

[txgreekmann]

The transition from the 1st year textbook to a "real" Greek text is tough (in my opinion) no matter what.

We aren't working through a specific text book so the prof can put whatever kind of structure that she wants in her own course. Yesterday during our review session it turns out I insulted all the Ancient Greek men and Zeus himself when I used the feminine form for a masculine noun.

Dave N.

[annis]

(also keep in mind that there are no commentaries to help you with Harry Potter)

That's not quite true: Greek Harry Potter, from the translator himself. The vocabulary list is especially useful.

I think the book would be tough going for a first year student, but I think people very motivated to read it would gain a lot from their efforts.

[mraig]

(also keep in mind that there are no commentaries to help you with Harry Potter)

That's not quite true: Greek Harry Potter, from the translator himself. The vocabulary list is especially useful.

Neat!