Subject
Constellations & the Mystery of Dr. Sutton
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Date
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Dear Matt and Jerry,
I 'm hoping to spend a little time soon studying what Matt and Jerry
have written about Dr "Sutton," but until then, in case it turns out
to be of interest, I found in the archives the following post I sent
to the List on Pale Fire constellations.
From: Carolyn Kunin To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum Sent: Friday, October
11, 2002 9:14 PM Subject: more Pale Fire Constellations
If in referrring to Kinbote as the Great Beaver, Nabokov was indeed
indicating a reference to the constellation Gemini, then the pail,
"situla," turns out to indicate the constellation Aquarius. Situla is
a star in the constellation Aquarius, but the name also is an
alternate name, along with Ganymede, for the constellation and
refers to the source from which Aquarius/Ganymede pours out the water/
wine. It seems that in most cultures this constellation is associated
with rains, floods, fountains.
One interesting astrological interpretation reads "The beauty of
Ganymedes and his flight through the air link [Situla] to the ideas
of personal charm and aviation with which [the constellation] is
certainly connected." The beauty of Ganymede has other Pale Fire
implications, and reflects on "Hebe's Cup."
Ursa Major has some Pale Fire links:
1) as indicating northernmost;
2) the mythical Atalanta was suckled by a she-bear;
2) the seven stars of the constellation are associated in some
cultures with death, and may have something to do with the seven
regalia-bearing courtiers that appear at the time of Queen Blenda's
death
4) The Bear is associated with the chase (another Atalanta link).
Other constellations spotted in Pale Fire:
Lyra,Krater,Cygnus,Virgo,Felis,Canis,Cancer,Monoceros.
In re-reading I realize I neglected to point out the obvious
implications of Ganymede for sexuality. But I am rather proud of that
Monoceros!
Carolyn
Search the archive: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html
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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
I 'm hoping to spend a little time soon studying what Matt and Jerry
have written about Dr "Sutton," but until then, in case it turns out
to be of interest, I found in the archives the following post I sent
to the List on Pale Fire constellations.
From: Carolyn Kunin To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum Sent: Friday, October
11, 2002 9:14 PM Subject: more Pale Fire Constellations
If in referrring to Kinbote as the Great Beaver, Nabokov was indeed
indicating a reference to the constellation Gemini, then the pail,
"situla," turns out to indicate the constellation Aquarius. Situla is
a star in the constellation Aquarius, but the name also is an
alternate name, along with Ganymede, for the constellation and
refers to the source from which Aquarius/Ganymede pours out the water/
wine. It seems that in most cultures this constellation is associated
with rains, floods, fountains.
One interesting astrological interpretation reads "The beauty of
Ganymedes and his flight through the air link [Situla] to the ideas
of personal charm and aviation with which [the constellation] is
certainly connected." The beauty of Ganymede has other Pale Fire
implications, and reflects on "Hebe's Cup."
Ursa Major has some Pale Fire links:
1) as indicating northernmost;
2) the mythical Atalanta was suckled by a she-bear;
2) the seven stars of the constellation are associated in some
cultures with death, and may have something to do with the seven
regalia-bearing courtiers that appear at the time of Queen Blenda's
death
4) The Bear is associated with the chase (another Atalanta link).
Other constellations spotted in Pale Fire:
Lyra,Krater,Cygnus,Virgo,Felis,Canis,Cancer,Monoceros.
In re-reading I realize I neglected to point out the obvious
implications of Ganymede for sexuality. But I am rather proud of that
Monoceros!
Carolyn
Search the archive: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html
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