Morehead State University
Background Research for an Anthology of Translations on the Hero and Leander Theme in Western Literature
Institution
Morehead State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Philip Krummrich
Abstract
The story of Hero and Leander was originally written by Musaeus around the fifth century A.D. Hero lights a lantern in a tower every night to guide Leander as he swims across the Hellespont to secretly visit her. However, one night the lantern is blown out and Leander drowns. Upon seeing her dead lover, Hero kills herself by jumping from the tower. This simple story has become a recurring theme in literature over many centuries. The limited details have allowed writers to use their literary license to complete the story. Dr. Krummrich, a professor of comparative literature at Morehead State University, is currently translating many of the stories of Hero and Leander into English and compiling them into a book. One of the responsibilities I have had as his research assistant is to research biographical information about the authors whose works will be included in the book. The sources of information about these authors are often written in Spanish; therefore, this part of my responsibility involves using my knowledge of the Spanish language. Another aspect of my job is to find pieces of art and music that are based on the story of Hero and Leander. These pieces will be listed in appendices to the book and included as illustrations. The artwork I find will be used for the cover of the book. My methods of research include using online databases, searching library catalogs, and interviewing knowledgeable professors.
Background Research for an Anthology of Translations on the Hero and Leander Theme in Western Literature
The story of Hero and Leander was originally written by Musaeus around the fifth century A.D. Hero lights a lantern in a tower every night to guide Leander as he swims across the Hellespont to secretly visit her. However, one night the lantern is blown out and Leander drowns. Upon seeing her dead lover, Hero kills herself by jumping from the tower. This simple story has become a recurring theme in literature over many centuries. The limited details have allowed writers to use their literary license to complete the story. Dr. Krummrich, a professor of comparative literature at Morehead State University, is currently translating many of the stories of Hero and Leander into English and compiling them into a book. One of the responsibilities I have had as his research assistant is to research biographical information about the authors whose works will be included in the book. The sources of information about these authors are often written in Spanish; therefore, this part of my responsibility involves using my knowledge of the Spanish language. Another aspect of my job is to find pieces of art and music that are based on the story of Hero and Leander. These pieces will be listed in appendices to the book and included as illustrations. The artwork I find will be used for the cover of the book. My methods of research include using online databases, searching library catalogs, and interviewing knowledgeable professors.