The Millionaires Dinner Party Translation English Pdf: A Humorous and Satirical Story of Ancient Rome
The Millionaires Dinner Party Translation English Pdf: A Review
If you are looking for a fun and engaging way to learn Latin, you might want to check out The Millionaires Dinner Party, a short story written by John Percival Postgate in 1905. This story is based on an ancient Roman novel called Cena Trimalchionis, which is part of the Satyricon by Petronius. In this article, we will review The Millionaires Dinner Party translation English pdf, and give you some tips on how to get the most out of this classic piece of literature.
The Millionaires Dinner Party Translation English Pdf
What is The Millionaires Dinner Party?
The Millionaires Dinner Party is a humorous and satirical story that depicts the extravagant and absurd feast hosted by Trimalchio, a former slave who became a wealthy and powerful businessman. The story is narrated by Encolpius, a young man who attends the party with his friend Ascyltus and his lover Giton. Along the way, they encounter various characters and situations that reveal the social and cultural aspects of Roman life in the first century AD.
The plot of the story
The story begins with Encolpius and his companions arriving at Trimalchio's house, where they are greeted by a porter who gives them a silver coin as a souvenir. They then enter the dining room, where they see a huge table covered with lavish dishes and decorations. Trimalchio himself is lying on a couch, wearing a purple robe and a golden wreath. He introduces himself as a self-made man who started from nothing and achieved great success. He also boasts about his astrological knowledge, his estates, his slaves, his wife Fortunata, and his plans for his funeral.
The dinner party consists of several courses, each accompanied by entertainment and surprises. For example, one course features a roasted pig that is cut open to reveal sausages and black pudding inside. Another course has a tray with signs of the zodiac, each containing a different food item. Trimalchio also orders a mock funeral for one of his slaves who broke a glass, and a theatrical performance of the Trojan War. Throughout the feast, Trimalchio makes witty remarks, tells stories, sings songs, and shows off his wealth and power.
The story ends with Encolpius and his friends leaving the party after witnessing a violent quarrel between Trimalchio and Fortunata. They are chased by some dogs on their way out, but they manage to escape and find their way back to their lodgings.
The main characters
The main characters of The Millionaires Dinner Party are:
Trimalchio: The host of the party, a former slave who became rich and influential. He is arrogant, vulgar, ignorant, generous, and eccentric.
Encolpius: The narrator of the story, a young man who is interested in literature and philosophy. He is curious, sarcastic, cynical, and adventurous.
Ascyltus: The friend of Encolpius, who accompanies him to the party. He is greedy, lustful, rude, and dishonest.
Giton: The lover of Encolpius, who is also invited to the party. He is a handsome boy who is loyal, sweet, and naive.
Fortunata: The wife of Trimalchio, a former slave and dancer who married him for his money. She is vain, proud, jealous, and temperamental.
Agamemnon: A teacher of rhetoric who is also a guest at the party. He is educated, eloquent, polite, and friendly.
The historical context
The Millionaires Dinner Party is based on an ancient Roman novel called Cena Trimalchionis, which is part of the Satyricon by Petronius. Petronius was a Roman writer and courtier who lived in the first century AD, during the reign of Emperor Nero. He is known as the "arbiter of elegance" for his refined taste and style. He wrote the Satyricon as a satire of the decadent and corrupt society of his time, using humor, irony, and parody to expose the vices and follies of the Roman elite.
The Satyricon is one of the earliest examples of a novel in Western literature, and one of the few surviving works of Latin prose fiction. It is composed of various episodes that follow the adventures of Encolpius and his companions in different places and situations. The Cena Trimalchionis is the most famous and complete episode of the Satyricon, and it has been widely admired and imitated by many writers and artists throughout history.
Why read The Millionaires Dinner Party in English?
If you are interested in learning Latin, reading The Millionaires Dinner Party in English can be a great way to improve your skills and enjoy a classic story at the same time. Here are some reasons why you should read The Millionaires Dinner Party in English:
The benefits of reading in a foreign language
Reading in a foreign language can help you to:
Expand your vocabulary and grammar knowledge
Improve your reading comprehension and fluency
Enhance your cultural awareness and appreciation
Develop your critical thinking and analytical skills
Boost your confidence and motivation
The challenges of translating Latin to English
Translating Latin to English can be a difficult task, because Latin and English have different structures, syntaxes, idioms, and nuances. Some of the challenges that translators face are:
Preserving the meaning and tone of the original text
Choosing the right words and expressions that fit the context and style
Maintaining the rhythm and rhyme of the poetry
Adapting the cultural references and allusions to the modern audience
Balancing between literal and creative translation
The quality and availability of the English translation
The Millionaires Dinner Party translation English pdf that we recommend is the one by John Percival Postgate, who was a British classical scholar and editor. He wrote The Millionaires Dinner Party in 1905 as a simplified version of Cena Trimalchionis for students who were learning Latin. He used modern English language and spelling, but he preserved the essence and humor of Petronius' original work. He also added some notes and explanations to help readers understand the historical and literary context of the story.
You can find The Millionaires Dinner Party translation English pdf online for free, or you can buy a printed copy from various bookstores or online platforms. You can also find other translations of Cena Trimalchionis by different authors, such as William Arrowsmith, Michael Heseltine, or Sarah Ruden.
How to get the most out of The Millionaires Dinner Party?
If you want to get the most out of The Millionaires Dinner Party, you should not only read it for fun, but also use it as a learning tool. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Tips for reading comprehension
To improve your reading comprehension, you should:
Read the introduction and the notes before you start reading the story
Look up any unfamiliar words or phrases in a dictionary or glossary
Use context clues and inference to guess the meaning of unknown words or expressions
Summarize each paragraph or section in your own words after you read it
Ask yourself questions about what you read, such as who, what, when, where, why, how
Reread any parts that are confusing or unclear to you
Activities and exercises to enhance learning
To enhance your learning, you should:
with Cena Trimalchionis and see how they are similar or different
Write a summary or a review of The Millionaires Dinner Party in your own words
Create a character profile or a dialogue for one of the characters in the story
Make a list of the food and drinks that are served at the party and research their origins and recipes
Draw a map or a diagram of Trimalchio's house and the layout of the dining room
Design a poster or a flyer to advertise The Millionaires Dinner Party as a book or a movie
Resources and references for further study
If you want to learn more about The Millionaires Dinner Party and its author, you can check out these resources and references:
The Satyricon by Petronius: The original Latin text of the novel that includes Cena Trimalchionis
The Cambridge Companion to Petronius: A collection of essays that explore the literary, historical, and cultural aspects of Petronius and his work
Petronius: A Handbook: A comprehensive guide that covers the biography, bibliography, and criticism of Petronius and his work
The Roman Banquet: Images of Conviviality: A book that examines the social and symbolic significance of the Roman banquet in art and literature
Roman Laughter: The Comedy of Plautus: A book that analyzes the humor and style of Plautus, a Roman playwright who influenced Petronius and his satire
Conclusion
The Millionaires Dinner Party translation English pdf is a great way to enjoy a classic story and learn Latin at the same time. It is a humorous and satirical story that depicts the extravagant and absurd feast hosted by Trimalchio, a former slave who became rich and powerful. It is based on an ancient Roman novel called Cena Trimalchionis, which is part of the Satyricon by Petronius. Reading The Millionaires Dinner Party in English can help you to improve your vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, cultural awareness, critical thinking, and confidence. You can also enhance your learning by doing some activities and exercises based on the story, and by exploring some resources and references for further study.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about The Millionaires Dinner Party translation English pdf:
Q: Who wrote The Millionaires Dinner Party?A: The Millionaires Dinner Party was written by John Percival Postgate, a British classical scholar and editor. He wrote it in 1905 as a simplified version of Cena Trimalchionis by Petronius.
Q: Who was Petronius?A: Petronius was a Roman writer and courtier who lived in the first century AD. He wrote the Satyricon as a satire of the decadent and corrupt society of his time.
Q: What is Cena Trimalchionis?A: Cena Trimalchionis is a short story that is part of the Satyricon by Petronius. It tells the story of an extravagant and absurd feast hosted by Trimalchio, a former slave who became rich and powerful.
Q: Why should I read The Millionaires Dinner Party in English?A: Reading The Millionaires Dinner Party in English can help you to improve your Latin skills and enjoy a classic story at the same time. It can also help you to learn more about the Roman culture and literature.
Q: How can I get The Millionaires Dinner Party translation English pdf?A: You can find The Millionaires Dinner Party translation English pdf online for free, or you can buy a printed copy from various bookstores or online platforms.
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