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RES: [NABOKV-L] from Ron Rosenbaum re VN's own words about the
<Pale Fire> nar...
<Pale Fire> nar...
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RSGwynn: "Nabokov's "ex ponto" is a clear allusion to Virgil's Epistulae ex
Ponto (Letters from the Black Sea). Since Shade had presumably never been
on the Black Sea (Latin: ponto) but VN (and CK or VB) presumably had, might
VN not be saying that through the Index runs the theme of exile? I.e., a
"gentle wind" that both VN and CK share? But not JS.
JM: Yesterday I observed that "Although I seem to remember sentences where
Nabokov denies any similarity between Zembla and Russia in Strong Opinions,
as a metaphor of what he feels towards his childhood home and infant
fantasies, Zembla seems to fit in perfectly with the importance he will
ascribe to "the index" and to the gentle winds that reach him at his an "ex
ponto" exile. We should remember that "index" means a finger, a pointing
finger. " and there are more elements to add.
Ex ponto might indicate (ie: point with an index finger) Vergil, Pushkin,
Nabokov, even a letter to Tamara.
Ponto ( punctus) can stand for the "point" in Euclydean space, or some other
dot or full stop, referring to something that is "ex" (outside) it.
Index and point are almost overdetermined, as images and signs go
(indication, pointer, ex ponto, index).
The final verse, with the rose in lieu of "I suppose" sounds better to my
ears. In Speak Memory names were substituted, but not its "point." Probably
Nabokov's composition was not as ready in his mind as he once let it
transpire in one or two interviews. but, then, there's a lot of Kinbote in
Nabokov!
Btw: I never before related the ending sounds of "Botkin and Pushkin." I've
been reading about the influence of Shakespeare, various Roberts, Swift and
Pope in Pale Fire. I wonder if the carrier-sheath, the bare botkin, the
ghostly ambassator wouldn't be related to the ghost of Pushkin..,
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Ponto (Letters from the Black Sea). Since Shade had presumably never been
on the Black Sea (Latin: ponto) but VN (and CK or VB) presumably had, might
VN not be saying that through the Index runs the theme of exile? I.e., a
"gentle wind" that both VN and CK share? But not JS.
JM: Yesterday I observed that "Although I seem to remember sentences where
Nabokov denies any similarity between Zembla and Russia in Strong Opinions,
as a metaphor of what he feels towards his childhood home and infant
fantasies, Zembla seems to fit in perfectly with the importance he will
ascribe to "the index" and to the gentle winds that reach him at his an "ex
ponto" exile. We should remember that "index" means a finger, a pointing
finger. " and there are more elements to add.
Ex ponto might indicate (ie: point with an index finger) Vergil, Pushkin,
Nabokov, even a letter to Tamara.
Ponto ( punctus) can stand for the "point" in Euclydean space, or some other
dot or full stop, referring to something that is "ex" (outside) it.
Index and point are almost overdetermined, as images and signs go
(indication, pointer, ex ponto, index).
The final verse, with the rose in lieu of "I suppose" sounds better to my
ears. In Speak Memory names were substituted, but not its "point." Probably
Nabokov's composition was not as ready in his mind as he once let it
transpire in one or two interviews. but, then, there's a lot of Kinbote in
Nabokov!
Btw: I never before related the ending sounds of "Botkin and Pushkin." I've
been reading about the influence of Shakespeare, various Roberts, Swift and
Pope in Pale Fire. I wonder if the carrier-sheath, the bare botkin, the
ghostly ambassator wouldn't be related to the ghost of Pushkin..,
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/