Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0014944, Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:42:42 -0500

Subject
Re: B.Boyd on "PF" denigrators, from CHW
Date
Body
Azure is a blue of a clear sky. It is also noun. As such 'false azure' makes
sense. Not so clunky, not so easily.



- George



-----Original Message-----
From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU] On Behalf
Of Chaswe@AOL.COM
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:09 PM
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: [NABOKV-L] B.Boyd on "PF" denigrators, from CHW



In a message dated 21/02/2007 16:24:21 GMT Standard Time, nabokv-l@UTK.EDU
writes:

What puzzles me about the denigrators of the quality of "Pale Fire" is that
the examples they cite of the poem's supposed clunkers do not seem clunky to
me. "'False azure' indeed." Indeed what?

Brian Boyd

Here's a suggestion: Azure means blue. Only secondarily does it connote sky.
A thing is either blue, or it isn't. It can't be "falsely" blue. Shade's
English is not as precise as VN's, and a poet should not allow himself to be
so sloppy --- unless it's with deliberate aesthetic intent.



As to why what doesn't sound clunky to some sounds so to others --- verb
sap.



Fair criticism is not denigration.





Charles

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