Поэма А. Блока « Двенадцать » в чешской среде

This paper consists of confrontational analysis of two Czech translations of Alexander Blok’s famous poem “The Twelve”: one by Bohumil Mathesius published in 1925 (4th ed. 1977) which was considered canonical for many generations of Czech readers; and the most recent one published by Lubor Kasal in 2016. The present study tries to ascertain which translation is more accurate and closer to the Russian original and to identify the flaws and mistakes from the stylistic and semantic point of view which can be found in both translations. The paper discusses whether the two Czech translations under study render the same aesthetic experience for Czech readers as the original for its Russian readers. Both translations are closely examined with emphases on several important aspects: the semantic density of both the original and the Czech translations; the rhythm of the Russian poem and of its Czech versions; the choice of suitable equivalents in both translations. In the end, the assessment of Lubor Kasal’s Czech translation is overall positive, as it meets the requirements for the translator and his translation without serious reservations.