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Re: Fwd: Re: cairns
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Hi, Carolyn. What dictionary?
By the way, when I was explaining my theory about _Pale Fire_,
I thought of but then forgot to mention your find of "Botkin"
backwards as "nikto b'", which supports my idea as well as
yours. But I'm remembering now.
Hi, AB. "Steinmann" occurs in the note to line 149. The King,
walking across the country in red pajamas to make his escape,
sees a reflection of himself in a pool, which proves to be "a
_steinmann_ (a heap of stones erected as a memento of an ascent)"
that "had donned a cap of red wool in his honor". It's also the
last name of the "an especially brilliant impersonator of the
King, the tennis ace [a mild pun] Julius Steinmann (son of the
well-known philanthropist". Steinmann is captured but the firing
squad bungles, and Gradus attempts to shoot him in the hospital
but misses with both bullets, finding on his return that
Steinmann had disappeared (note to line 171). So Steinmann is
a reflection of the reflected _steinmann_ in that both are mistaken
for the King, and Steinmann is a reflection of the King in the
latter's escape from Zembla and escape from being shot by Gradus
(as he thinks).
I think there's more about this in Boyd's book, at least with a
connection to the red/green theme, but I can't remember.
The other word you're thinking of is "a _buchmann_, a little
pillar of library books" (note to line 181). Presumably we're
supposed to analyze "steinmann" as "stone man" and "buchmann"
as "book man". All three words are pure German, unless I'm
mistaken.
The element "stein" occurred earlier in "rodstein", presumably
"red stone", the material of realistic rose petals in the mosaic
of the Ducal Chapel (note to line 47) (and the maiden name of
a friend of mine). I don't remember "mann" or "buch" anywhere
else.
All this strikes me as of minor amusement value (if that), but
I'm not as good as some people at connecting minor gleams
to overall themes. Anyway, I hope it helps.
Jerry Friedman
--- "Donald B. Johnson" <chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu> wrote:
> Steinmann is translated as "cairn" in the dictionary. The OED gives
> three
> meanings:
> a) a memorial (over a grave for example)
> b) a boundary marker or landmark and
> c) a mere heap of stones.
>
> Carolyn
>
> > From: "Donald B. Johnson" <chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu>
> > Reply-To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> > Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 05:21:17 -0700
> > To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> > Subject: Fwd: Re: Nabokov's statues
> >
> > I've seen small stone constructions on mountail trails
> > while hiking in Yosemite, and we would call them ... this is terrible.
> At
> > this particular moment I can't remember the word. But I've wondered if
> the
> > recurring image in PF might be emblematic in some way.
> >
> > AB
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
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By the way, when I was explaining my theory about _Pale Fire_,
I thought of but then forgot to mention your find of "Botkin"
backwards as "nikto b'", which supports my idea as well as
yours. But I'm remembering now.
Hi, AB. "Steinmann" occurs in the note to line 149. The King,
walking across the country in red pajamas to make his escape,
sees a reflection of himself in a pool, which proves to be "a
_steinmann_ (a heap of stones erected as a memento of an ascent)"
that "had donned a cap of red wool in his honor". It's also the
last name of the "an especially brilliant impersonator of the
King, the tennis ace [a mild pun] Julius Steinmann (son of the
well-known philanthropist". Steinmann is captured but the firing
squad bungles, and Gradus attempts to shoot him in the hospital
but misses with both bullets, finding on his return that
Steinmann had disappeared (note to line 171). So Steinmann is
a reflection of the reflected _steinmann_ in that both are mistaken
for the King, and Steinmann is a reflection of the King in the
latter's escape from Zembla and escape from being shot by Gradus
(as he thinks).
I think there's more about this in Boyd's book, at least with a
connection to the red/green theme, but I can't remember.
The other word you're thinking of is "a _buchmann_, a little
pillar of library books" (note to line 181). Presumably we're
supposed to analyze "steinmann" as "stone man" and "buchmann"
as "book man". All three words are pure German, unless I'm
mistaken.
The element "stein" occurred earlier in "rodstein", presumably
"red stone", the material of realistic rose petals in the mosaic
of the Ducal Chapel (note to line 47) (and the maiden name of
a friend of mine). I don't remember "mann" or "buch" anywhere
else.
All this strikes me as of minor amusement value (if that), but
I'm not as good as some people at connecting minor gleams
to overall themes. Anyway, I hope it helps.
Jerry Friedman
--- "Donald B. Johnson" <chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu> wrote:
> Steinmann is translated as "cairn" in the dictionary. The OED gives
> three
> meanings:
> a) a memorial (over a grave for example)
> b) a boundary marker or landmark and
> c) a mere heap of stones.
>
> Carolyn
>
> > From: "Donald B. Johnson" <chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu>
> > Reply-To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> > Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 05:21:17 -0700
> > To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> > Subject: Fwd: Re: Nabokov's statues
> >
> > I've seen small stone constructions on mountail trails
> > while hiking in Yosemite, and we would call them ... this is terrible.
> At
> > this particular moment I can't remember the word. But I've wondered if
> the
> > recurring image in PF might be emblematic in some way.
> >
> > AB
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
__________________________________________________
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Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
----- End forwarded message -----