erschlagener Wolf

English translation: savaged wolf

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:erschlagener Wolf
English translation:savaged wolf
Entered by: Kim Metzger

05:07 Mar 21, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Hermann Hesse
German term or phrase: erschlagener Wolf
Der Wolf by Hermann Hesse

Mit zerbrochenen Gliedern schleppten sie ihn nach St. Immer hinab. Sie lachten, sie prahlten, sie freuten sich auf Schnaps und Kaffee, sie sangen, sie fluchten. Keiner sah die Schönheit des verschneiten Forstes, noch den Glanz der Hochebene, noch den roten Mond, der über dem Chasseral hing und dessen schwaches Licht in ihren Flintenläufen, in den Schneekristallen und in den gebrochenen Augen des **erschlagenen Wolfes** sich brach.

This is meant as a gift for a dear friend. The English translation is available on Google. I changed a little bit here and there, but it's the last part of the last sentence I'm at issue with. The English translation reads: ...and on the blurred eyes of the dead wolf.

Well, the wolf isn't just 'dead', he was 'erschlagen'. He went through quite an ordeal until he finally bought it. Is there an English word (Hesse style) that would express the pain and torture of the wolf?
No refs needed.
TIA!!
Fantutti (X)
Local time: 00:32
savaged wolf
Explanation:
This might work nicely because of the contrast between "savage" wolf and "savaged" wolf. To savage is to attack and treat brutally.
Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 01:32
Grading comment
"...the zombie eyes of the wasted wolf." That's what the neighbor's kid cooked up in less than 3 seconds. Nevertheless, I opted for Kim's version. Thank you, Kim, and many thanks and greetings to all of you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5slain
Melanie Nassar
4 +2savaged wolf
Kim Metzger
3 +1slaughtered
jerrie
3conqueured wolf
Robert Schlarb
2worn out
Jonathan MacKerron


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
slain


Explanation:
maybe this fits better

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Note added at 1 hr 15 mins (2004-03-21 06:23:41 GMT)
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Pretty simplistic (both answers), I know. So why didn\'t the original transator (or you) think of this? Or did he/she think of it and reject it? Well, it\'s just an attempt. I haven\'t read Hesse for years, by the way.

Melanie Nassar
United States
Local time: 09:32
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD: sounds fine to me
49 mins

agree  IngePreiss: my first thought, too
1 hr

agree  chaac
1 hr

agree  Edward L. Crosby III
2 hrs

agree  Susan Geiblinger
3 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
slaughtered


Explanation:
blurred and slaughtered rub along quite nicely

I'm not familiar with the wolf's ordeal, but you might even be able to go as far as butchered (to kill cruelly), which also goes quite nicely with blurred.

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: Slaughtered comes closest, I think. First he was hit with an ax and later beaten with sticks and clubs.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks. Bludgeoned.....?
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
conqueured wolf


Explanation:
a suggestion with more than one syllable

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Note added at 5 hrs 14 mins (2004-03-21 10:22:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

ahem - that\'s \"conquered\"

Robert Schlarb
Local time: 08:32
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 12
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
savaged wolf


Explanation:
This might work nicely because of the contrast between "savage" wolf and "savaged" wolf. To savage is to attack and treat brutally.

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 01:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 213
Grading comment
"...the zombie eyes of the wasted wolf." That's what the neighbor's kid cooked up in less than 3 seconds. Nevertheless, I opted for Kim's version. Thank you, Kim, and many thanks and greetings to all of you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD
3 hrs

agree  Susanne Rindlisbacher
1 day 7 hrs
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
worn out


Explanation:
had lost his élan

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 67
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