HH describes nymphets as "magical creatures" and takes pains to describe a sort of fantasy world in which only a "select" few can see them.  I don't think the answer lies in entomology or etymology, but rather in mythology.  also, aesthetically, "larvet" doesn't really have the same ring to it!  i think it would be a mistake to conflate N's personal and scientific pursuit of lepidoptery with his artistic choices/intentions.  to look at everything in his books and try to find a logical connection to butterflies comes dangerously close to the systematic symbolism he eschewed.


On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 8:38 PM, Robert H. Boyle <KatyaBelousBoyle@aol.com> wrote:
 
No wish to bug Nabokovians,  but a question in need of  an answer. 
 
       Why did Nabokov,  a lepidopterist, call Lolita a nymphet?  Lepidoptera do not have nymphs, they have larvae. 
 
        Only ancient insects, primitive insects if you will, such as the Plecoptera (stoneflies) and the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have nymphs. 
 
         Should Lolita have been a larvalet instead of a nymphet? 
 
         Or was VN thinking of Lolita as a damselfly and thus a nymphet?  Please,  a definitive entomological/etymological answer.  Thank you,.
 
           RHB



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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: KatyaBelousBoyle@aol.com
To: NABOKOV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 22:14:21 EST
Subject: Nymphet? Or Larvalet?
No wish to bug Nabokovians,  but a question demanding an answer. 
 
       Why did Nabokov,  a lepidopterist, call Lolita a nymphet?  Lepidoptera do not have nymphs, they have larvae. 
 
        Only ancient insects, primitive insects if you will, such as the Plecoptera (stoneflies) and the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) have nymphs. 
 
         Should Lolita have been a larvalet instead of a nymphet? 
 
         Or was VN thinking of her, which I doubt, as a damselfly and thus a nymphet?  Please,  a definitive entomological/etymological answer.
 
           RHB



New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines.
Search the archive Contact the Editors Visit "Nabokov Online Journal"
Visit Zembla View Nabokv-L Policies Manage subscription options

All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both co-editors.



Search the archive Contact the Editors Visit "Nabokov Online Journal"
Visit Zembla View Nabokv-L Policies Manage subscription options

All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both co-editors.