Asking students to compare two English translations of Tvrdica is a smart way to teach close reading without requiring knowledge of French. Different translators make different choices about tone, rhythm, and vocabulary, and those choices can change how Harpagon sounds. One version might make him pompous and old-fashioned, while another makes him sound like a modern penny-pincher. A comparison essay shows whether students notice such differences and can explain their effects.

The assignment works best when you provide the two passages rather than leaving students to find their own. A short excerpt, such as Harpagon's frantic speech after discovering that his casket is gone, gives students enough material to examine line by line. They can compare word choice, sentence length, punctuation, and the rhythm of the speech. Narrow focus produces closer analysis than asking them to compare entire translations.

When grading, look for essays that make a claim about effect, not just a list of differences. Noting that one translation uses "thief" while another uses "robber" is observation, but explaining how that choice changes the audience's reaction is analysis. The best students link small language choices to larger questions about character and comedy. Those links should carry the most weight in your rubric.

Rubric Design for Translation Essays

A useful rubric for this assignment rewards specificity and restraint. Students should quote short phrases from each translation and analyze them, instead of pasting long passages and describing them vaguely. They should also avoid claiming that one translation is more faithful to the original, since they cannot verify this without reading French. Instead, they can discuss which version creates a more convincing or funny Harpagon for an English-speaking audience.

• Quotes short, precise phrases from both translations
• Explains how word choice affects tone or characterization
• Avoids unsupported claims about faithfulness to the French original
• Connects differences to the play's comedy or themes
• Presents a clear overall judgment about the two versions

Typical Mistakes to Address

One common mistake is treating the translations as if they were separate plays, ignoring that they render the same moment. Students may describe each passage individually and never actually compare them. Feedback should push them to place specific phrases side by side and explain the contrast. A simple suggestion, such as asking them to build each paragraph around one pair of lines, can fix the structure quickly.

Another issue is relying on personal preference, such as saying one version is better because it is easier to read. Readability is a valid criterion, but it needs to be tied to the purpose of the scene. Ask students to consider what a theater audience would need from the line rather than what a solitary reader prefers. This shifts their thinking from taste to analysis.

Efficient Feedback on Close Reading

Close reading essays are dense, and grading them requires attention to individual phrases, which takes time. Highlighting the strongest observation in each paper and writing one question about the weakest paragraph keeps comments focused. This approach also models the habit you want students to develop, which is zooming in on specific language. Over a unit, their analyses tend to become more precise.

AI-based feedback tools can support this work by identifying where an essay quotes a phrase but offers no interpretation, a pattern that is easy to miss across many papers. The tool drafts a prompt for the student, and the teacher checks it against the actual text. That combination speeds up grading while keeping the teacher in control of the reading. Students end up with comments that point to precise words in their own writing.