Subject
madness and avian theme in Pale Fire
From
Date
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Dear Alexey,
If I had a little more energy this morning I could of course answer
this question myself, but let me ask you a bit about Batyushkov. I
think I confuse him, God knows why, with Bogdanovich. Who is
responsible for the absolutely delightful Dushen'ka? Since you
mention Hebe and Zeus, I'll note that this is a re-telling of the
Apuleius tale of Cupid and Psyche.
In any event, what were the circumstances of Batyushkov's madness?
Nabokov doesn't say.
Tiutchev's reaction to the skylark is interesting. I used to hear
meadowlarks when I was growing up and their song, while sung fully
perched, was a very beautiful melody, rippling down then quickly back
up. I can see how a disturbed soul could interpreted it as almost
diabolical laughter. How does a skylark sound (you ought to know!)?
Carolyn
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If I had a little more energy this morning I could of course answer
this question myself, but let me ask you a bit about Batyushkov. I
think I confuse him, God knows why, with Bogdanovich. Who is
responsible for the absolutely delightful Dushen'ka? Since you
mention Hebe and Zeus, I'll note that this is a re-telling of the
Apuleius tale of Cupid and Psyche.
In any event, what were the circumstances of Batyushkov's madness?
Nabokov doesn't say.
Tiutchev's reaction to the skylark is interesting. I used to hear
meadowlarks when I was growing up and their song, while sung fully
perched, was a very beautiful melody, rippling down then quickly back
up. I can see how a disturbed soul could interpreted it as almost
diabolical laughter. How does a skylark sound (you ought to know!)?
Carolyn
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/