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Re: Kinbote: camouflage or coincidence?
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Kinbote: camouflage or coincidence?Dear All,
"but if told I am a poor scholar, I reach for my heaviest dictionary."
Strong Opinions p. 241.
Both "kinbote" and the adjective "versipellous" are to be found in the OED:
Kinboot, -bute, -bot. A wergeld or man-boot paid by a homicide to the kin of
the person slain.
Versipellous. Having the faculty of changing the skin.
The above has, of course, been pointed out long before and Brian Boyd
discusses the word in that meaning in his VN: AM.
As I always understood it, Kinbote in his role as commentator and
"publisher" of "Pale Fire" the poem is the "wergeld" in relation to the
slain Shade.
Needless to say, the meaning of "kinbote" is not something someone has
attached to it, and I am certain VN was very much aware of its meaning. The
variant spelling "kinbot" is the perfect anagram of botkin, but the
additional "e" is intended to mislead and adds zest to the whole. And zesty,
by the way, which seems so offenseful to certain members on this list and
which has unrightfully been compared to "blooper" is not only very apt in
the meaning of "marked by spirited enjoyment," but the very sound of the
word evokes the crisp cold of frosty winter. VN's adjectival precision and
aptness have no rival imfb (in my firm belief).
A. Bouazza.
JM: VN could not foresee the significance that would be attached to his
choice of the name "Kinbote."
-----Original Message-----
From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU]On Behalf
Of Carolyn Kunin
Sent: 04 December 2006 20:12
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Kinbote: camouflage or coincidence?
In my opinion, VN might have extracted the "kinbote" meaning from the
familiar RLS's work
(cryptomnesically or not)
Dear Jansy,
The word "kinbote" like the word "versipel" is too unusual to be a
happenstance. Neither word appears in the OED, yet both are found in
Webster's 3rd edition. Their usage by VN is very calculated.
a thematic similarity with Grimm's "Frau Holle" and where a compliant
child gets a princely reward while the reluctant one is punished with shame
or death by exposure.
Since I read the story you mention, as you sent me a copy, allow me to
disagree with your interpretation. The virtuous child is not compliant, but
on the contrary, stubbornly refuses to admit that "King Frost" with all his
furious and terrifying clicks and snaps has made her feel the slightest
cold. I interpreted her behavior as defiant rather than compliant.
Carolyn
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"but if told I am a poor scholar, I reach for my heaviest dictionary."
Strong Opinions p. 241.
Both "kinbote" and the adjective "versipellous" are to be found in the OED:
Kinboot, -bute, -bot. A wergeld or man-boot paid by a homicide to the kin of
the person slain.
Versipellous. Having the faculty of changing the skin.
The above has, of course, been pointed out long before and Brian Boyd
discusses the word in that meaning in his VN: AM.
As I always understood it, Kinbote in his role as commentator and
"publisher" of "Pale Fire" the poem is the "wergeld" in relation to the
slain Shade.
Needless to say, the meaning of "kinbote" is not something someone has
attached to it, and I am certain VN was very much aware of its meaning. The
variant spelling "kinbot" is the perfect anagram of botkin, but the
additional "e" is intended to mislead and adds zest to the whole. And zesty,
by the way, which seems so offenseful to certain members on this list and
which has unrightfully been compared to "blooper" is not only very apt in
the meaning of "marked by spirited enjoyment," but the very sound of the
word evokes the crisp cold of frosty winter. VN's adjectival precision and
aptness have no rival imfb (in my firm belief).
A. Bouazza.
JM: VN could not foresee the significance that would be attached to his
choice of the name "Kinbote."
-----Original Message-----
From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU]On Behalf
Of Carolyn Kunin
Sent: 04 December 2006 20:12
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Kinbote: camouflage or coincidence?
In my opinion, VN might have extracted the "kinbote" meaning from the
familiar RLS's work
(cryptomnesically or not)
Dear Jansy,
The word "kinbote" like the word "versipel" is too unusual to be a
happenstance. Neither word appears in the OED, yet both are found in
Webster's 3rd edition. Their usage by VN is very calculated.
a thematic similarity with Grimm's "Frau Holle" and where a compliant
child gets a princely reward while the reluctant one is punished with shame
or death by exposure.
Since I read the story you mention, as you sent me a copy, allow me to
disagree with your interpretation. The virtuous child is not compliant, but
on the contrary, stubbornly refuses to admit that "King Frost" with all his
furious and terrifying clicks and snaps has made her feel the slightest
cold. I interpreted her behavior as defiant rather than compliant.
Carolyn
Search the Nabokv-L archive at UCSB
Contact the Editors
All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both
co-editors.
Visit Zembla
View Nabokv-L Policies
Search the archive: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html
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