通过对荷马风格鞭辟入里的分析,阿诺德考察了16世纪到19世纪英国译者的不足,以期为将来的荷马译者提供借鉴。但是详加考察就会发现《论荷马史诗的翻译》看似言在此——谈论翻译技巧,实则意在彼——进行社会批评,与其说阿诺德在批判纽曼的翻译风格,不如说在表达自己对社会的批评观念。阿诺德已经将它抽象成一种社会理想,既表现为荷马所代表的风格——崇高庄重;又化身为国家;同时还是英国国教所代表的统一、权威与秩序。只有将阿诺德所推崇的“崇高”置于其社会批评的视域中,才能窥见它背后的深意。 Through his analysis of Homeric whips, Arnold examined the shortcomings of British translators from the 16th to the 19th centuries in order to provide reference for future Homer translators. However, a closer examination reveals that “On the Translation of Homeric Poetry” seems plausible here - talking about translation skills, but in fact intended to be socially critical, is not so much that Arnold criticized Newman’s style of translating as saying Own social criticism. Arnold has abstracted it as a social ideal, showing both the style represented by Homer - lofty and dignified, the embodiment of the state, and the unity, authority and order represented by the Anglican Church. Only by placing the “noble” advocated by Arnold in the perspective of his social criticism can we get a glimpse of the underlying meaning behind it.