Translator Missing - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

[Michael Harrison]

The translator for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Samuel Ogden Andrew, is listed nowhere on the book page, or in the book itself. The only inclusion is his initials (S. O. A.) with the Preface.

Thank you.

[Alex Cabal]

I don't think Andrew is a translator per se, though it does look like he
edited the wording of the poem significantly. This kind of seems like an
edge case. It does seem like he should at least appear in the slug,
because he has created his own version of this poem. Emma?

On 2/23/26 9:18 AM, Michael Harrison wrote:
> The translator for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight <https://
> standardebooks.org/ebooks/anonymous/sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight>,

> Samuel Ogden Andrew, is listed nowhere on the book page, or in the book
> itself. The only inclusion is his initials (S. O. A.) with the Preface.
>
> Thank you.
>

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[Weijia Cheng]

Wouldn't the question be whether we consider Middle English to be a different language from modern English? Taking a look at this Middle English version, I would think it's reasonable to call it a "translation."

[Michael Harrison]

I apologize if I have erred.

My logic was that: the original Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is written in Middle English, while the version by Samuel Ogden Andrew has been "translated" to Modern English verse.

Therefore, I assumed Samuel Ogden Andrew should be considered the translator, but possibly another title would be more appropriate.

Thank you.

[Emma Sweeney]

S. O. Andrew considered this a modernization rather than a translation. The subtitle for his version is "A modern version of the 14th century alliterative poem", and the word "translation" doesn't show up anywhere in the front matter. There is a good amount of archaic words retained and are defined in the glossary.

Alex, If you consider this a translation, I can make a PR.

Emma

On Monday, February 23, 2026 at 2:36:03 PM UTC-5 Alex Cabal wrote:

[Alex Cabal]

I guess we should ask how far does he go here? What exactly does he mean
when he says modernizing?

On 2/23/26 2:12 PM, Emma Sweeney wrote:
> S. O. Andrew considered this a modernization rather than a translation.
> The subtitle for his version is "A modern version of the 14th century
> alliterative poem", and the word "translation" doesn't show up anywhere
> in the front matter. There is a good amount of archaic words retained
> and are defined in the glossary.
>
> Alex, If you consider this a translation, I can make a PR.
>
> Emma
> On Monday, February 23, 2026 at 2:36:03 PM UTC-5 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> I don't think Andrew is a translator per se, though it does look
> like he
> edited the wording of the poem significantly. This kind of seems
> like an
> edge case. It does seem like he should at least appear in the slug,
> because he has created his own version of this poem. Emma?
>
> On 2/23/26 9:18 AM, Michael Harrison wrote:
> > The translator for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight <https://
> > standardebooks.org/ebooks/anonymous/sir-gawain-and-the-green-

> knight <http://standardebooks.org/ebooks/anonymous/sir-gawain-and-

> the-green-knight>>,
> > Samuel Ogden Andrew, is listed nowhere on the book page, or in
> the book
> > itself. The only inclusion is his initials (S. O. A.) with the
> Preface.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
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> send
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> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ <https://groups.google.com/d/
> msgid/>
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>
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[Emma Sweeney]

He modernized spelling, punctuation, and some grammar. He preserved "as much of the original language as was possible without being obscure." There are the same number of lines and same alliterative meter, which you never see in translations.

Emma