Chapter 5, "Fairwell to the Old"
Section 1:
166. Military personnel and equipment move back and forth through Meliuzeievo so that one cannot determine the course of the war.
167. Miltary and medical personnel do double duty as local officals. Why cannot the locals govern themselves?
168. Our characters start to think it is time to get back home. Dr. Zhivago and Lara are brought together by their work.
Section 2:
169. Dr. Zhivago writes his wife that he may return soon and tells her about Lara Antipova, recalling Tonia's mother's death scene.
170. Tonia write back that it would be better if Dr. Zhivago were to go off to the Urals with Lara Antipova. What could possibly give rise to this heartwrenching statement?
171. Tonia promises Dr.Zhivago that he will never be ashamed of Sasha.
172. Do we have a parallel with Dr. Zhivago's parental situation?
173. Dr. Zhivago writes back asking if his previous behavior has led Tonia to say he should stay with Lara.
174. Dr. Zhivago states he does not know which room is Lara's in the house that they live.
Section 3:
175. Various political upheavals take place in the area where Dr. Zhivago is located.
176. Zybushino declares its independence but is overthrown.
177. Zybushino is the focus of local legends in this western region as to its prosperity, fertile farm land, customs, and oddities of speech. Why does this matter to Pasternak's narrative?
178.The rebels who established The Republic of Zybushino retreat to Biriuchi.
Section 4:
179. Description of the house of Countess Zhabrinskaia lent to the Red Cross as a hospital at the beginning of the war.
180. The house is located on the "Platz" and had been used as a meeting house and a place for soldiers to drill in the old days.
181. Ustina and Madamoiselle Fleury, former staff members for the Countess, remain at the house.
182. Pasternak depicts Madamoiselle Fleury as a figure of fun? Is she, in fact, funny or pathetic?
183. Madammoiselle Fleury sees herself as a matchmaker and is convinced the doctor and Lara belong together.
184. Dr. Zhivago is angered by Madamoiselle Fleury's implications. This scenario must have unfolded before the exchange of letters with Tonia as they were writing before the doctor was to return home. How does this influence the doctor's reaction to Tonia's suggestion that the doctor stay with Lara?
185. Ustina a clumsy, pear-shaped woman. She is sober-minded, but very superstitious.She is said to be the daugher of a local sorcerer and was born in the fabled town of Zybushino.
186. After the fall of the Zybushino Republic, town meetings are held at which Ustina becomes an effective orator. She affirms the tales of the deaf-mute of Zybushino at these meetings. What is the relation of this story to Pasternak's narrative?
187. Madamoiselle Fleury becomes an ardent supporter of Ustina.
Section 5, Mr. Tuomala's Page 5 (bottom of the page)
188. Dr. Zhivago visits friends and collects the documents to clear the way for his departure.
189. The new commisar of the local sector arrives and is described as a mere boy. Can we assume that the revolution has succeded in this region?
190. Confusion reigns as a new offensive is planned and laws are changed back and forth.
191. The doctor must obtain one fianl signature from the new commisar Gints.
192. Pasternak has the doctor see the office of the commisar as in a state of "artistic disorder." What is the meaning of this? Does it matter?
193. The commandant introduces the doctor as "one of our stars."
194. Dr. Zhivago is the only person in the room sitting properly. What does all this disorder suggest?
195. The topic under discussion is what to do with the deserters who formed the Zybushino Republic.
196. Gints, the new commisar, is the son of a senator and speaks with a correct St. Petersburg accent wih a baltic intonation. His name may indicate German ancestry. These comments will have an effect later in the narrative.
197. The commandant says there is a loyal, Red Cossack regiment ready to "disarm" the rebels.
198. Gints reacts saying, "Cossacks! Out of the question. This is not 1905. We're not going back to prerevolutionary methods. On this point we don't see eye to eye. Your generals have outsmarted themselves."
199. Gints says he has an agreement with the High Command not to interfere wih opperations and will not cancel the operation agaists the deserters. He wishes to visit the encampment of the deserters and have a "heart-to-heart" with them.
200. Gints' plan is to appeal to their patriotism and shame them into getting with the program of the revolution.
201. Galiullin, who knows the men of the 212th, tries to dissuade Gints but is not able.
202. The commandant and his aide are sly and Gints is naive. The scene embarrasses Dr. Zhivago causing him to wish to leave.
203. Finally the doctor leaves. It is not clear that his paperwork was signed.
LASCIATE OGNI SPERANZA VOI CH'ENTRATE!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Dr.Zhivago, Chapter 4, Section 13
Chapter 4, Section 13, Mr. Tuomala's Page 18. We are still with Misha and Dr. Zhivago
136. Misha gets his wish as the Germans have broken through and the Russians must retreat.
137. Dr. Zhivago complains that the laundry has not been done.
138. Misha and Dr. Zhivago run through the streets dodging bullets as the doctor sees Misha to his carriage.
139. Misha departs and the doctor is to follow in the second party.
140. While returning to his place, Dr. Zhivago is knocked off his feet by an explosion and rendered unconscious by a shell splinter.
Chapter 4, Section 14, Mr. Tuomala's Page19. Dr.Zhivago is recovering in the officers' ward at a hospital.
141. The hospital in which Dr. Zhivago is recovering is moved to a village near the general headquarters; It is now Februrary.
142. Galiulin lies in the bed opposite Dr. Zhivago. He is reading the newspaper and complaining about censorship of the news.
143. Dr. Zhivago is reading his wife's (Tonia/s) letters.
144. Nurse Lara enters the room.
145. Dr. Zhivago and Galiullin recognize Lara neither realizing the other knew her.
146. Lara knows neither of them.
147. Galiullin tells Lara her husband, Pavel Antipov, has not been killed but has been taken prisoner.
148. Lara refuses to believe Galiullin. She leaves the room not wishing to cry in front of strangers.
149. Lara returns, avoids Galiullin, goes to Dr. Zhivago to ask about his injuries. What is her reason for not asking Galiullin for further information?
150. Dr. Zhivago says he is a doctor and is looking after himself. He does not tell Lara he knows her. He recalls Anna Ivanovna in her coffin and Tonia's screems. Why does he not identify himself? (Help me remember: Was this Anna Ivanovna Gromeko?)
151. Lara thinks that she has somehow offended Dr. Zhivago.
152. Lara sees Dr. Zhivago as a man with a snub nose and an unremarkable face. Why does Pasternak tell us this?
153. The political situation darkens as strange reports from the interior of Russia and telegraphic communications with St. Petersburg are cut off again and again.
154. Lara muses about the "young and gruff " Dr. Zhivago; he is not handsome but has an attrative mind. Why has Dr. Zhivago not identified himself?
155. Lara wishes to finish her job and get back to Katenka and her teaching position in Yuriatin.
156. Lara seems to have no thought about following up on Galiullin's revelations about Pavel's having been taken prisoner. Why?
157. Lara believes the war has been lost and that she has done her duty.
158. Lara sees heself now as nothing more than a mother.What is her reason for this turn-around? She had abandoned Katenka to search for Pavel but now motherhood is her only mission.
159. Dr. Zhivago learns that Misha and Dudorov have published his book but without his permission. What book is this? I do not recall Pasternak's having mentioned a book.
160. There is discontent among the masses and grave political events seem imminent.
161. Dr. Zhivago recalls his home life with Tonia and Sasha.
162. Lara realizes she has not thanked Galiullin for his devotion to Pavel. She tries to make up for this oversight by asking Galiullin about himself.
163. Lara is reminded of the house at Twenty-eight Brest Street and the Tiverzins.
164. She thinks about the shooting in 1905 in that neighborhood and now the shooters are in the army.
165. The news comes that there is street fighting in St. Petersburg and the Revolution has begun.
End of Page 20 of Mr. Tuomala's text
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI!
136. Misha gets his wish as the Germans have broken through and the Russians must retreat.
137. Dr. Zhivago complains that the laundry has not been done.
138. Misha and Dr. Zhivago run through the streets dodging bullets as the doctor sees Misha to his carriage.
139. Misha departs and the doctor is to follow in the second party.
140. While returning to his place, Dr. Zhivago is knocked off his feet by an explosion and rendered unconscious by a shell splinter.
Chapter 4, Section 14, Mr. Tuomala's Page19. Dr.Zhivago is recovering in the officers' ward at a hospital.
141. The hospital in which Dr. Zhivago is recovering is moved to a village near the general headquarters; It is now Februrary.
142. Galiulin lies in the bed opposite Dr. Zhivago. He is reading the newspaper and complaining about censorship of the news.
143. Dr. Zhivago is reading his wife's (Tonia/s) letters.
144. Nurse Lara enters the room.
145. Dr. Zhivago and Galiullin recognize Lara neither realizing the other knew her.
146. Lara knows neither of them.
147. Galiullin tells Lara her husband, Pavel Antipov, has not been killed but has been taken prisoner.
148. Lara refuses to believe Galiullin. She leaves the room not wishing to cry in front of strangers.
149. Lara returns, avoids Galiullin, goes to Dr. Zhivago to ask about his injuries. What is her reason for not asking Galiullin for further information?
150. Dr. Zhivago says he is a doctor and is looking after himself. He does not tell Lara he knows her. He recalls Anna Ivanovna in her coffin and Tonia's screems. Why does he not identify himself? (Help me remember: Was this Anna Ivanovna Gromeko?)
151. Lara thinks that she has somehow offended Dr. Zhivago.
152. Lara sees Dr. Zhivago as a man with a snub nose and an unremarkable face. Why does Pasternak tell us this?
153. The political situation darkens as strange reports from the interior of Russia and telegraphic communications with St. Petersburg are cut off again and again.
154. Lara muses about the "young and gruff " Dr. Zhivago; he is not handsome but has an attrative mind. Why has Dr. Zhivago not identified himself?
155. Lara wishes to finish her job and get back to Katenka and her teaching position in Yuriatin.
156. Lara seems to have no thought about following up on Galiullin's revelations about Pavel's having been taken prisoner. Why?
157. Lara believes the war has been lost and that she has done her duty.
158. Lara sees heself now as nothing more than a mother.What is her reason for this turn-around? She had abandoned Katenka to search for Pavel but now motherhood is her only mission.
159. Dr. Zhivago learns that Misha and Dudorov have published his book but without his permission. What book is this? I do not recall Pasternak's having mentioned a book.
160. There is discontent among the masses and grave political events seem imminent.
161. Dr. Zhivago recalls his home life with Tonia and Sasha.
162. Lara realizes she has not thanked Galiullin for his devotion to Pavel. She tries to make up for this oversight by asking Galiullin about himself.
163. Lara is reminded of the house at Twenty-eight Brest Street and the Tiverzins.
164. She thinks about the shooting in 1905 in that neighborhood and now the shooters are in the army.
165. The news comes that there is street fighting in St. Petersburg and the Revolution has begun.
End of Page 20 of Mr. Tuomala's text
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Dr. Zhivago, Chapter 4, Section 10, Yurii and Misha in Polish Galicia
Chapter 4, Section 10:
95. Misha asks about horses to return him to the railway station.
96. Some advancing Russian forces have been encircled and the Germans have crossed the Sventa at a place that was thought to be impassable.
97. Dr. Zhivago is pleased that calves feet is on the menu for dinner.
98. The town, with Western European style lattice windows, where Dr. Zhivago's medical unit is located remains undamaged by the fighting.
99. The town suffers from "Indian" summer.
100. The doctors curse the orderlies for not knowing how to build a fire.
101. The gunfire is no-stop but from time to time a deep bang is heard from the explosion of a shell from a Big Bertha, a 16 inch German artillery piece.
102. There is a discussion of nauseatingly sweet smell in the air which seems to be a combination of decaying corpses and hemp (marijuana plants). Remember hemp has uses other than as a recreational drug.
103. Misha Gordon learns Dr. Zhivago's ideas of the effects of modern warfare especially the mutilation caused by new weapons.
104. Misha sees the immorality of war but merely crying over it is just as immoral. He believes that behaving simply and honestly according to the circumstances in which one finds oneself is the way to live.
105. Misha and Dr. Zhivago go near the front to a first aid station. The doctor tells Misha the situation may change at any moment and not to play the hero if incoming fire begins.
106. Wounded soldiers are sprawled along the sides of the road and ammunition carts filled with more wounded from the front are coming in.
107. The lightly wounded are bandaged up and the seriously wounded are being operated on.
108. Unbeknownst to Dr. Zhivago, Misha Gordon, Lara, Private Gimzetdin and Lieutenant Galiullin are brought together.
109. Private Gimazetdin is brought in on a stretcher with a shell fragment lodged in his jaw bone.
110. Lieutenant Galiullin, the private's son, is shouting at the medical officer. The nurse, Lara, fears the two men walking near Private Gimazetdin may yank the shell fragment out of his jaw.
111.. Misha and Dr. Zhivago witness this scene.
112. Pasternak says, "All these people were there together, in one place. But some of them had never known each other, while others failed to recognize each other now. And there were things about them which were never to be known for certain, while others were not to be revealed until a future time, a later meeting." What is Pasternak's meaning here and what is his purpose in telling this to us.
Section 11, Misha Gordon and Dr. Zhivago are still together.
113. Dr. Zhivago and Misha are driving back to the base through one of the miraculously intact villages when they see a young Cossack tormenting and old Jewish man to the delight of the crowd of onlookers. The old man's wife comes out to try to stop it and his granddaughters are watching from a window and crying.
114. Dr. Zhivago's driver is amused by this scene, but the doctor orders the young Cossack to stop the torment. It appears the doctor has military rank and can give orders to soldiers.
115. The doctor and Misha return to the base in silence. Why in silence? Would the doctor have stopped the torment if his Jewish friend, Misha, had not been with him?
116. As they arrive at the base, the doctor expresses his feelings about the treatment of Jews, especially in the "Pale." The word choice here is suspect. The Pale is the English-speaking part of Ireland, chiefly Eastern Ireland centering around Dublin. I doubt this term would be known to Pasternak's Russian readers. Is it possible Pasternak did use this term knowing that his book might never be read in Russia and that other Europeans would recognize it? Today the expression "beyond the Pale" means outside normal bounds.
117. The area in question is Polish where large numbers of Jews had settled.
118. Why does Misha not respond to Dr. Zhivago defense of the Jews of Polish Galicia?
Chapter 4, Section 12, We are still with Dr. Zhivago and Misha in the Carpathian Mountains.
119. Note the description of the valley where the local railway station is located.
120. The military and the medical unit prepare for a visit from the tsar.
121. The txar's remarks are greeted with thunderous hurrahs.
122. Grand Duke Nicholas guides and ushers the tsar through the ceremonies.
123. The tsar seems older and more tired than his image on the money and medals.
124 Dr. Zhivago feels sorry for the tsar and wonders how such a diffident (shy/retiring) man could be the opressor of a nation.
125. Dr. Zhivago believes the tsar should have made a patriotic, peptalk-like speech as other leaders would have done.
126. The doctor seems to change his mind on this point thinking such a speech would be theatrical and unthinkable in Russia.
127. Top of Mr. Tuomala's typed page 17: Dr. Zhivago takes on the journalists whose repetative and absurd reports to newspapers fail to get to the heart of the matter. How do you interpret his complaint against these journalists? How does this relate to the pending revolution?
128. Misha finally responds to Dr. Zhivago's remarks on the tormenting of the old Jewish man in the village.
129. Why does Misha say there is no point in philosophizing on the incident with the old man?
130. On the other hand; however, Misha says philosophy does come into play vis-a-vie the Jewish Question as a whole. What can this mean?
131. Misha says both he and Dr. Zhivago got there ideas from Uncle Nikolai. Uncle Nikolai had said that Christ had begun history and had introduced the concept of individuality and individual salvation. How do these assertions relate to the Jewish Question?
132. Dr. Zhivago's reply in the middle of Mr. Tuomala's page 17 seems confusing to me. He appears to say the universality of the Christian philosophy that has tranformed nations is merely a proposal "naive and timid." I am sure that I am not getting this right. We need to discuss this.
133.Dr. Zhivago continues by saying in the Kingdom of Heaven there are no Jews and no Gentiles but only individuals. He says the Gospels were not needed to express this as Greek, Roman, and Hebrew thinkers had already figured this out. Does this seem to be correct to you?
134. Misha states that facts are meaningless unless meaning is put into them and that the "mystery of the individual" must be put into the facts to make them meaningful. What is Misha trying to tell us? What is Pasternak's purpose?
135. Misha continues to discuss the Jewish Question by asking why the Jews who gave birth to Christianity simply not accept Christianity and give up their identity as Jews.
Section 13, Mr. Tuomala's page 18 to follow.
COGITO ERGO SUM.
95. Misha asks about horses to return him to the railway station.
96. Some advancing Russian forces have been encircled and the Germans have crossed the Sventa at a place that was thought to be impassable.
97. Dr. Zhivago is pleased that calves feet is on the menu for dinner.
98. The town, with Western European style lattice windows, where Dr. Zhivago's medical unit is located remains undamaged by the fighting.
99. The town suffers from "Indian" summer.
100. The doctors curse the orderlies for not knowing how to build a fire.
101. The gunfire is no-stop but from time to time a deep bang is heard from the explosion of a shell from a Big Bertha, a 16 inch German artillery piece.
102. There is a discussion of nauseatingly sweet smell in the air which seems to be a combination of decaying corpses and hemp (marijuana plants). Remember hemp has uses other than as a recreational drug.
103. Misha Gordon learns Dr. Zhivago's ideas of the effects of modern warfare especially the mutilation caused by new weapons.
104. Misha sees the immorality of war but merely crying over it is just as immoral. He believes that behaving simply and honestly according to the circumstances in which one finds oneself is the way to live.
105. Misha and Dr. Zhivago go near the front to a first aid station. The doctor tells Misha the situation may change at any moment and not to play the hero if incoming fire begins.
106. Wounded soldiers are sprawled along the sides of the road and ammunition carts filled with more wounded from the front are coming in.
107. The lightly wounded are bandaged up and the seriously wounded are being operated on.
108. Unbeknownst to Dr. Zhivago, Misha Gordon, Lara, Private Gimzetdin and Lieutenant Galiullin are brought together.
109. Private Gimazetdin is brought in on a stretcher with a shell fragment lodged in his jaw bone.
110. Lieutenant Galiullin, the private's son, is shouting at the medical officer. The nurse, Lara, fears the two men walking near Private Gimazetdin may yank the shell fragment out of his jaw.
111.. Misha and Dr. Zhivago witness this scene.
112. Pasternak says, "All these people were there together, in one place. But some of them had never known each other, while others failed to recognize each other now. And there were things about them which were never to be known for certain, while others were not to be revealed until a future time, a later meeting." What is Pasternak's meaning here and what is his purpose in telling this to us.
Section 11, Misha Gordon and Dr. Zhivago are still together.
113. Dr. Zhivago and Misha are driving back to the base through one of the miraculously intact villages when they see a young Cossack tormenting and old Jewish man to the delight of the crowd of onlookers. The old man's wife comes out to try to stop it and his granddaughters are watching from a window and crying.
114. Dr. Zhivago's driver is amused by this scene, but the doctor orders the young Cossack to stop the torment. It appears the doctor has military rank and can give orders to soldiers.
115. The doctor and Misha return to the base in silence. Why in silence? Would the doctor have stopped the torment if his Jewish friend, Misha, had not been with him?
116. As they arrive at the base, the doctor expresses his feelings about the treatment of Jews, especially in the "Pale." The word choice here is suspect. The Pale is the English-speaking part of Ireland, chiefly Eastern Ireland centering around Dublin. I doubt this term would be known to Pasternak's Russian readers. Is it possible Pasternak did use this term knowing that his book might never be read in Russia and that other Europeans would recognize it? Today the expression "beyond the Pale" means outside normal bounds.
117. The area in question is Polish where large numbers of Jews had settled.
118. Why does Misha not respond to Dr. Zhivago defense of the Jews of Polish Galicia?
Chapter 4, Section 12, We are still with Dr. Zhivago and Misha in the Carpathian Mountains.
119. Note the description of the valley where the local railway station is located.
120. The military and the medical unit prepare for a visit from the tsar.
121. The txar's remarks are greeted with thunderous hurrahs.
122. Grand Duke Nicholas guides and ushers the tsar through the ceremonies.
123. The tsar seems older and more tired than his image on the money and medals.
124 Dr. Zhivago feels sorry for the tsar and wonders how such a diffident (shy/retiring) man could be the opressor of a nation.
125. Dr. Zhivago believes the tsar should have made a patriotic, peptalk-like speech as other leaders would have done.
126. The doctor seems to change his mind on this point thinking such a speech would be theatrical and unthinkable in Russia.
127. Top of Mr. Tuomala's typed page 17: Dr. Zhivago takes on the journalists whose repetative and absurd reports to newspapers fail to get to the heart of the matter. How do you interpret his complaint against these journalists? How does this relate to the pending revolution?
128. Misha finally responds to Dr. Zhivago's remarks on the tormenting of the old Jewish man in the village.
129. Why does Misha say there is no point in philosophizing on the incident with the old man?
130. On the other hand; however, Misha says philosophy does come into play vis-a-vie the Jewish Question as a whole. What can this mean?
131. Misha says both he and Dr. Zhivago got there ideas from Uncle Nikolai. Uncle Nikolai had said that Christ had begun history and had introduced the concept of individuality and individual salvation. How do these assertions relate to the Jewish Question?
132. Dr. Zhivago's reply in the middle of Mr. Tuomala's page 17 seems confusing to me. He appears to say the universality of the Christian philosophy that has tranformed nations is merely a proposal "naive and timid." I am sure that I am not getting this right. We need to discuss this.
133.Dr. Zhivago continues by saying in the Kingdom of Heaven there are no Jews and no Gentiles but only individuals. He says the Gospels were not needed to express this as Greek, Roman, and Hebrew thinkers had already figured this out. Does this seem to be correct to you?
134. Misha states that facts are meaningless unless meaning is put into them and that the "mystery of the individual" must be put into the facts to make them meaningful. What is Misha trying to tell us? What is Pasternak's purpose?
135. Misha continues to discuss the Jewish Question by asking why the Jews who gave birth to Christianity simply not accept Christianity and give up their identity as Jews.
Section 13, Mr. Tuomala's page 18 to follow.
COGITO ERGO SUM.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Dr. Zhivago, Chapter 4, Section 6 continued
Chapter 4, Section 6 continued.
62. Pavel was only pretending to be asleep. He got up, dressed, went out, walked to the railway crossing and sat down on an overturned boat.
63. He ponders his relationship with Lara and wonders about the motives each has in the marriage.
64. He tries to think his way out of this dilemma when a train rushes past going westward.
65. He has decided what to do so he returns home and goes to bed.
Section 7
66. Lara thinks his dicision to join the military is a whim that he will forget.
67. Pasha sends in his papers and is admitted to the military academy at Omsk.
68. Lara begs him to reconsider, accuses him of being jealous of Rodia and of wishing to strut around in a uniform.
69. Lara asks what has changed him.
70. Lara realizes that Pasha has misunderstood her attitude toward him. He is rebelling against her motherly feelings toward him and that such feelings were more, not less than the ordinary love of a woman for a man.
71. Lara becomes abstracted owing to Pasha's absence
72. Pasha is commissoned lieutenant and sent to the front.
73. Bursilov's forces advance and then are forced to dig in.
74. Pasha's letters stop coming.
75. At first, Lara attributes the lack of letters to enforced military silence.
76. Lara begins to worry and makes inquiries about Pasha's failure to send letters.
77. Lara had been giving a hand at the military ward at the local hospital get a leave of absence from her school job and studies to be a nurse.
78. She takes a position on military train going to Mezo-Laborch on the Hungarian Front, the place she last got a letter from Pasha.
Section 8: We meet Misha Gordon again.
79. Misha is onboard a Red Cross train taking aid to the wounded at the front Misha is in a first class coach filled with upper-crust people bringing presents to the soldiers.
80. Misha hopes to find his friend, Dr. Zhivago who was attached to the divisional hospital at a near-by village.
81. Misha get off the train to take a carriage going to the village where the divisional hospital was.
82. Owing to the spy-scare, the non-Russian driver professes his loyalty to Russia so that Misha does not engage him in conversation.
83. At the local militiary headquarters, Misha is told that the village where Dr. Zhivago is is fifteen miles distant, but it is more like fifty miles.
84. Misha hears and observes the sounds and the glow of exploding artillery shells on the horizon.
85. Misha passes ruined villages with old women digging through the ruins for valuables
86. After dark, the carriage is ordered off the main roads.
87. The driver, not knowing the back roads, drives around in circles.
88. They find a village with the right name, but unfortunately there are two villages with the same name.
89. After some time, they find the right village.
90. Misha decides to spend the day with Dr. Zhivago and return to the railway station in the evening. Circumstances; however, force him to remain more than a week.
Chapter 4, Section 9 Information on the supposed fate of Pasha
91. Galiullin, watching through field glasses, assumes that Pasha is killed while leading an attiack.
92. Sixteen inch shell from German artillery pieces burst in front of Pasha and his men.
92. Pasha has actually been taken prisoner.
93. Galiullin, who shares a dugout with Pasha takes charge of his belongings and does not know that Pasha is a prisoner.
94. Galiullin, an enlisted man, has bee promoted to lieutena is the son of Gimazetdin, the janitor of Tiverzin's apartment building. He is the Yusupka that Khudoleiev had beaten up. Now he has his promotion because of his old tormentor.
HABAI ITA SWE!
62. Pavel was only pretending to be asleep. He got up, dressed, went out, walked to the railway crossing and sat down on an overturned boat.
63. He ponders his relationship with Lara and wonders about the motives each has in the marriage.
64. He tries to think his way out of this dilemma when a train rushes past going westward.
65. He has decided what to do so he returns home and goes to bed.
Section 7
66. Lara thinks his dicision to join the military is a whim that he will forget.
67. Pasha sends in his papers and is admitted to the military academy at Omsk.
68. Lara begs him to reconsider, accuses him of being jealous of Rodia and of wishing to strut around in a uniform.
69. Lara asks what has changed him.
70. Lara realizes that Pasha has misunderstood her attitude toward him. He is rebelling against her motherly feelings toward him and that such feelings were more, not less than the ordinary love of a woman for a man.
71. Lara becomes abstracted owing to Pasha's absence
72. Pasha is commissoned lieutenant and sent to the front.
73. Bursilov's forces advance and then are forced to dig in.
74. Pasha's letters stop coming.
75. At first, Lara attributes the lack of letters to enforced military silence.
76. Lara begins to worry and makes inquiries about Pasha's failure to send letters.
77. Lara had been giving a hand at the military ward at the local hospital get a leave of absence from her school job and studies to be a nurse.
78. She takes a position on military train going to Mezo-Laborch on the Hungarian Front, the place she last got a letter from Pasha.
Section 8: We meet Misha Gordon again.
79. Misha is onboard a Red Cross train taking aid to the wounded at the front Misha is in a first class coach filled with upper-crust people bringing presents to the soldiers.
80. Misha hopes to find his friend, Dr. Zhivago who was attached to the divisional hospital at a near-by village.
81. Misha get off the train to take a carriage going to the village where the divisional hospital was.
82. Owing to the spy-scare, the non-Russian driver professes his loyalty to Russia so that Misha does not engage him in conversation.
83. At the local militiary headquarters, Misha is told that the village where Dr. Zhivago is is fifteen miles distant, but it is more like fifty miles.
84. Misha hears and observes the sounds and the glow of exploding artillery shells on the horizon.
85. Misha passes ruined villages with old women digging through the ruins for valuables
86. After dark, the carriage is ordered off the main roads.
87. The driver, not knowing the back roads, drives around in circles.
88. They find a village with the right name, but unfortunately there are two villages with the same name.
89. After some time, they find the right village.
90. Misha decides to spend the day with Dr. Zhivago and return to the railway station in the evening. Circumstances; however, force him to remain more than a week.
Chapter 4, Section 9 Information on the supposed fate of Pasha
91. Galiullin, watching through field glasses, assumes that Pasha is killed while leading an attiack.
92. Sixteen inch shell from German artillery pieces burst in front of Pasha and his men.
92. Pasha has actually been taken prisoner.
93. Galiullin, who shares a dugout with Pasha takes charge of his belongings and does not know that Pasha is a prisoner.
94. Galiullin, an enlisted man, has bee promoted to lieutena is the son of Gimazetdin, the janitor of Tiverzin's apartment building. He is the Yusupka that Khudoleiev had beaten up. Now he has his promotion because of his old tormentor.
HABAI ITA SWE!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Dr. Zhivago, Chapter 4, Section 4
This is a continuation of yesterday's blog:
Section 4:
22. Lara and Pasha graduate with great grades and are offered jobs at the same town in the Ural Mountains.
23. Their friends arrange a fairwell party attended by young people; it becomes boisterous.
24. Lara had packed their things for the trip.
25. Komarovsky had been allowed to join the young peoples's party. How could Pasha allow this if Lara had confessed all?
26. Komarovsky waxes sentimental begins to sob about losing two young friends going off to a place something like the Sahara Desert.
27. Komarovsky asks permission to write to them. Lare jumps in to say that would be quite unnecessary and that Komarovsky should not even think of visiting. Does she fear falling into Komarovsky's clutches again? Why does she hurry off to the kitchen?
28. Lara looks out the window of the kitchen and in her imagination is transported to some wonderful remote village.
29. The doorbell rings. It is Nadia bringing best wishes from the people at Duplynaka.
30. Nadia gives Lara a beautiful necklace which a slightly sobered guest says is pink hyacinth and and as valuable as diamonds.
31. Nadia says the stones are yellow sapphires.
32. Lara insists that Nadia join the party. The guests who have sobered up start drinking again and get Nadia tipsy, as well.
33. While everyone is asleep in an alcoholic stupor, a burgler comes in to take advantage of the situation. Lara awakens but cannot shout so she knees Ira in the stomach. Ira yelps, the burgler drops everything and flees. Some of the men try to follow him but he escapes.
34. Lara makes coffee for all, sees them out the door, and finishes packing. Pasha and Lara make the train on time and their friends see them off.
Section 5: (Back to Yura, Yurii Andreievich)
35. The Russian army is in general retreat.
36. Yurii has brought Tonia, his wife, to the gynecological section (maternity ward) of the hospital and waits to speak to the midwife to make arrangements for them to contact each other about Tonia.
37. Discription of Yurii's impression of an autumn rain storm.
38. Moscow's hospitals are overcrowded especially after the battle of Lutsk. The overcrowing is beginning to affect the women's wards. Will this be a problem for Tonia's pregnancy?
39. The head gynecologist passes Yurii in the corridor but gives no indication on Tonia's condition.
40. The head gynecologist's assistant suggests that Yurii go home even though Tonia's pelvis is small and the baby is in occipito-posterior position.
41. When Yurii phones the next day, a hospital porter tells him she is not ready to give birth and should be taken home. Yurii keeps her in the hospital.
42. On the thrird day the labor pain begin and her water breaks.
43. When Yurii arrives at the hospital, Tonia's screams sound like those of people caught under the wheels of a moving train.
44. Yurii is not allowed to see his wife. Tonia; however, is safe and the baby boy is fine.
45. Yurii has trouble processing this information. The idea of fatherhood is not in the forefront of his thoughts as he focuses on the survival of Tonia. Is this normal for a new father? Why or Why not?
46. The head gynecologist stops Yurii from rushing into Tonia's room. He tells Yurii that she has lost a lot of blood and there is a chance of sepsis (blood poisoning) and psychological shock,
47. Yurii is allowed to look into the room through the partly open door.
48. Pasternak uses a ship metaphor to say that Tonia has brought a new soul into port
49. In the staff room, known as the Rubbish Dump, the prosector (person who prepares bodies for anatomical demonstrations) congratulates Yurii on his diagnosis on a previous case in which Yurii successfully identified the pathogen as echinococcus.
50. Just then the medical director come into the staff room, comments on the state of the Rubbish Dump, and announces that the government authorities have been reviewing the lists of exemptions for medical military service. That means there are not enough medical personnel at the war front. He indicates Yurii will be smelling gunpowder before long.
Section 6: (Back to the Antipovs, Lara and Pasha are now in Yuriatin)
51. The Antipovs do better in Yuriatin than they had expected to because the locals remember the Guishar family in a good light.
52. Lara has her hands full taking care of the house, their daughter (Katenka), and her job at the girls' gymnasium (secondary school). The maid, Marfutka, cannot get all the housework done so Lara must help her, as well.
53. Yuriatin located on the river Rynva meets the approach of winter by bringing the river boats out of the river and placing them in the yards of the homes to await the return of spring when the river is navigable once again. Such a boat was located on the grounds of the house rented by the Antivpovs. Katenka played under the upturned hull as a summer house.
54. Lara and Pavel have different attitudes toward the people of Yuriatin. She likes their dialect and their naive trustfulness, whereas Pavel turns out to be a city boy and views the locals as crude and ignorant.
55.Pavel becomes well read and even come to believe that Lara and his fellow teachers are not well-informed.
56. Pavel complains he feels stifled among his fellow teachers and feels their strong patriotism is out of tune with his own.
57.Pavel had been a classics student and now teaches Latin and ancient history, but his interest in the exact sciences is reasserting itself. He studies on his own and dreams of moving to Petersburg and taking a position in some branch of Mathematics.
58. His after-hours studying begins to impinge upon his physical health.
59. Pavel's relations with Lara become more complicated.
60. One night, after a get-together, Pavel sees their guests as complete fools; he is amazed at Lara's amiability toward them and cannot believe that she likes any of them.
61. It appears that Lara does not perceive Pavels feelings toward the locals.
Section 4:
22. Lara and Pasha graduate with great grades and are offered jobs at the same town in the Ural Mountains.
23. Their friends arrange a fairwell party attended by young people; it becomes boisterous.
24. Lara had packed their things for the trip.
25. Komarovsky had been allowed to join the young peoples's party. How could Pasha allow this if Lara had confessed all?
26. Komarovsky waxes sentimental begins to sob about losing two young friends going off to a place something like the Sahara Desert.
27. Komarovsky asks permission to write to them. Lare jumps in to say that would be quite unnecessary and that Komarovsky should not even think of visiting. Does she fear falling into Komarovsky's clutches again? Why does she hurry off to the kitchen?
28. Lara looks out the window of the kitchen and in her imagination is transported to some wonderful remote village.
29. The doorbell rings. It is Nadia bringing best wishes from the people at Duplynaka.
30. Nadia gives Lara a beautiful necklace which a slightly sobered guest says is pink hyacinth and and as valuable as diamonds.
31. Nadia says the stones are yellow sapphires.
32. Lara insists that Nadia join the party. The guests who have sobered up start drinking again and get Nadia tipsy, as well.
33. While everyone is asleep in an alcoholic stupor, a burgler comes in to take advantage of the situation. Lara awakens but cannot shout so she knees Ira in the stomach. Ira yelps, the burgler drops everything and flees. Some of the men try to follow him but he escapes.
34. Lara makes coffee for all, sees them out the door, and finishes packing. Pasha and Lara make the train on time and their friends see them off.
Section 5: (Back to Yura, Yurii Andreievich)
35. The Russian army is in general retreat.
36. Yurii has brought Tonia, his wife, to the gynecological section (maternity ward) of the hospital and waits to speak to the midwife to make arrangements for them to contact each other about Tonia.
37. Discription of Yurii's impression of an autumn rain storm.
38. Moscow's hospitals are overcrowded especially after the battle of Lutsk. The overcrowing is beginning to affect the women's wards. Will this be a problem for Tonia's pregnancy?
39. The head gynecologist passes Yurii in the corridor but gives no indication on Tonia's condition.
40. The head gynecologist's assistant suggests that Yurii go home even though Tonia's pelvis is small and the baby is in occipito-posterior position.
41. When Yurii phones the next day, a hospital porter tells him she is not ready to give birth and should be taken home. Yurii keeps her in the hospital.
42. On the thrird day the labor pain begin and her water breaks.
43. When Yurii arrives at the hospital, Tonia's screams sound like those of people caught under the wheels of a moving train.
44. Yurii is not allowed to see his wife. Tonia; however, is safe and the baby boy is fine.
45. Yurii has trouble processing this information. The idea of fatherhood is not in the forefront of his thoughts as he focuses on the survival of Tonia. Is this normal for a new father? Why or Why not?
46. The head gynecologist stops Yurii from rushing into Tonia's room. He tells Yurii that she has lost a lot of blood and there is a chance of sepsis (blood poisoning) and psychological shock,
47. Yurii is allowed to look into the room through the partly open door.
48. Pasternak uses a ship metaphor to say that Tonia has brought a new soul into port
49. In the staff room, known as the Rubbish Dump, the prosector (person who prepares bodies for anatomical demonstrations) congratulates Yurii on his diagnosis on a previous case in which Yurii successfully identified the pathogen as echinococcus.
50. Just then the medical director come into the staff room, comments on the state of the Rubbish Dump, and announces that the government authorities have been reviewing the lists of exemptions for medical military service. That means there are not enough medical personnel at the war front. He indicates Yurii will be smelling gunpowder before long.
Section 6: (Back to the Antipovs, Lara and Pasha are now in Yuriatin)
51. The Antipovs do better in Yuriatin than they had expected to because the locals remember the Guishar family in a good light.
52. Lara has her hands full taking care of the house, their daughter (Katenka), and her job at the girls' gymnasium (secondary school). The maid, Marfutka, cannot get all the housework done so Lara must help her, as well.
53. Yuriatin located on the river Rynva meets the approach of winter by bringing the river boats out of the river and placing them in the yards of the homes to await the return of spring when the river is navigable once again. Such a boat was located on the grounds of the house rented by the Antivpovs. Katenka played under the upturned hull as a summer house.
54. Lara and Pavel have different attitudes toward the people of Yuriatin. She likes their dialect and their naive trustfulness, whereas Pavel turns out to be a city boy and views the locals as crude and ignorant.
55.Pavel becomes well read and even come to believe that Lara and his fellow teachers are not well-informed.
56. Pavel complains he feels stifled among his fellow teachers and feels their strong patriotism is out of tune with his own.
57.Pavel had been a classics student and now teaches Latin and ancient history, but his interest in the exact sciences is reasserting itself. He studies on his own and dreams of moving to Petersburg and taking a position in some branch of Mathematics.
58. His after-hours studying begins to impinge upon his physical health.
59. Pavel's relations with Lara become more complicated.
60. One night, after a get-together, Pavel sees their guests as complete fools; he is amazed at Lara's amiability toward them and cannot believe that she likes any of them.
61. It appears that Lara does not perceive Pavels feelings toward the locals.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Dr. Zhivago Chapter 4
Dear students,
I shall try to preview our sessions by posting on this blog. I have used this medium in the past to communicate the talking points with the team. We have concluded that sentence by sentence exegesis is not possible with this text.
My plan is to touch on the events and character development. Please feel free to bring up topics that you feel we should discuss.
I shall identify areas of discussion by chapter and section nunber.
Chapter 4, Section 1:
1. Komarovsky, a powerful lawyer, does what is necessary to keep Lara from being prosecuted for the shooting. He places Lara in the home of Ruffina Onissimovna Voit-Voitkovsky.
2. Lara's diagnosis is brain fever. She is in a semi-conscious state. Does this equate to todoy's defense strategy of temporary insanity?.
Section 2:
3. Although Ruffina is a lady of advanced views, she takes an immediate dislike to Lara and sees her as a malingerer. Does this mean that Lara is faking it?
4. Rufina makes as much noise as she can and keeps the windows open even though it is winter.
5. As she lies in bed, she recalls her memories since her arrival in Moscow.
6. Komarovsky continues to support Lara, but does not visit.
7. Lara is pleased by Kologrivov's visit because of his vtiality.
8. Kologrivov treats Lara as a child. Why does she not react negativly to such treatmen?
9. Kologrivov tries to get her to move to the flat of a friend. He give Lara a check for 10,000 rubles.
10. When Lara recovers, she moves to the suggested flat.
Section 3:
11. Lara worries about not seeing Pasha: What can he be expected to think? Lara had tried to kill a man whom Pasha saw as merely an acquaintance of Lara's. Now that man is protecting her and allowing her to continue her studies.
12. Lara sends for Pasha to tell him she is a bad woman but cannot explain because she cannot stop crying.
13. Ruffina (Voitkovskaia) while Lara was still living with her would meet Pasha in the corridor and seeing his tear-stained face, would rush off to her room and collapse on her sofa laughing herself sick. She deems Pasha a "hero" sarcastically.
14. Lara tries to break off their relationship. Pasha suspects her of every deadly sin but loves her to distraction. To avoid going insane, they decide to marry immediately, even before graduation.
15. They were married on Whit Monday after they had passed their examinations.
16. The wedding arrangements were made by Liudmila Kapitonovna Chepurko, the mother of Lara's classmate, Tusia. Liudmila is a woman of many superstitions some of which she, herself, invented.
17. The day of the wedding was 'terribly" hot, but it was a great day for weddings and eveyone was excited.
18. The customs and traditions of Russian weddings were observed. .
19. At the wedding breakfast, the couple and the guests continued the traditions.
20. Lara confesses all in their wedding bed. Pasha's spirit hurtles down a void and his imagination could not keep up with her revelationss.
21. Lara and Pasha talk until morning. Pasha gets up in the morning almost astonished that he was still called Pasha Antipov.
I shall try to preview our sessions by posting on this blog. I have used this medium in the past to communicate the talking points with the team. We have concluded that sentence by sentence exegesis is not possible with this text.
My plan is to touch on the events and character development. Please feel free to bring up topics that you feel we should discuss.
I shall identify areas of discussion by chapter and section nunber.
Chapter 4, Section 1:
1. Komarovsky, a powerful lawyer, does what is necessary to keep Lara from being prosecuted for the shooting. He places Lara in the home of Ruffina Onissimovna Voit-Voitkovsky.
2. Lara's diagnosis is brain fever. She is in a semi-conscious state. Does this equate to todoy's defense strategy of temporary insanity?.
Section 2:
3. Although Ruffina is a lady of advanced views, she takes an immediate dislike to Lara and sees her as a malingerer. Does this mean that Lara is faking it?
4. Rufina makes as much noise as she can and keeps the windows open even though it is winter.
5. As she lies in bed, she recalls her memories since her arrival in Moscow.
6. Komarovsky continues to support Lara, but does not visit.
7. Lara is pleased by Kologrivov's visit because of his vtiality.
8. Kologrivov treats Lara as a child. Why does she not react negativly to such treatmen?
9. Kologrivov tries to get her to move to the flat of a friend. He give Lara a check for 10,000 rubles.
10. When Lara recovers, she moves to the suggested flat.
Section 3:
11. Lara worries about not seeing Pasha: What can he be expected to think? Lara had tried to kill a man whom Pasha saw as merely an acquaintance of Lara's. Now that man is protecting her and allowing her to continue her studies.
12. Lara sends for Pasha to tell him she is a bad woman but cannot explain because she cannot stop crying.
13. Ruffina (Voitkovskaia) while Lara was still living with her would meet Pasha in the corridor and seeing his tear-stained face, would rush off to her room and collapse on her sofa laughing herself sick. She deems Pasha a "hero" sarcastically.
14. Lara tries to break off their relationship. Pasha suspects her of every deadly sin but loves her to distraction. To avoid going insane, they decide to marry immediately, even before graduation.
15. They were married on Whit Monday after they had passed their examinations.
16. The wedding arrangements were made by Liudmila Kapitonovna Chepurko, the mother of Lara's classmate, Tusia. Liudmila is a woman of many superstitions some of which she, herself, invented.
17. The day of the wedding was 'terribly" hot, but it was a great day for weddings and eveyone was excited.
18. The customs and traditions of Russian weddings were observed. .
19. At the wedding breakfast, the couple and the guests continued the traditions.
20. Lara confesses all in their wedding bed. Pasha's spirit hurtles down a void and his imagination could not keep up with her revelationss.
21. Lara and Pasha talk until morning. Pasha gets up in the morning almost astonished that he was still called Pasha Antipov.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
GREETINGS TO THE 2012 ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM
Ladies and gentlemen,
The school district has promised to find funding for our participation in the decathlon. I shall be posting annotations to assist you. Please study them before I come to your work sessions.
HABAI ITA SWE!
Robert E. Melling
The school district has promised to find funding for our participation in the decathlon. I shall be posting annotations to assist you. Please study them before I come to your work sessions.
HABAI ITA SWE!
Robert E. Melling
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
INFORMATION FOR THE ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM 2011, STARTING AT THE TOP OF PAGE 45
I. Review of previous discussions
II. Questions on the Collective Unconscious
III. New annotations
316. P. 45, continuing paragraph from Page 44: "Telegraphic style" indicates some sort of abbreviation. Charges on telegrams were based on the number of characters in the message.
317. P. 45: Twill is cloth woven with ribs.
318. P. 45: The things left in the hut indicate a white man had lived in it.
319. P. 45: Marlow discovers a book lacking covers and stitched together with cotton thread. The title of the book, An Inquiry into some Points of Seamanship (some is not capitalized in either of the texts I am using) was written by a Master of his Majesty's Navy.
320. P. 45: The text is filled with boring and repulsive charts. diagrams, and figures.
321. P. 45: The text reinforces British obsession with efficiency, but it is sixty years old.
322. P. 45: The text discusses various aspects of seamanship and uses the term "purchases" which refers to a fast hold applied to move something mechanically or to keep from slipping.
323. P. 45: Marlow sees the book as something unmistakeably real in the unreality of the situation. Stated differently: reality breaks into the jungle.
324. P. 45: The text of the book is annotated in what appears to be a "cipher" or code.
325. P. 45: Marlow describes the cipher as an "extravagant" mystery. Extravagant means to wander beyond (normal) bounds.
326. P. 46, continuing paragraph from Page 45: If this text is so very boring and repulsive, why does Marlow say, "I slipped the book into my pocket. I assure you to leave off reading was like tearing myself away from the shelter of an old solid friendship?"
327. P. 46, first new paragraph: The manager believes the wood, the message, and the book must have been left by the "intruder," the trader who together with Kurtz could be hanged. Marlow suggests the man is English.
328. P. 46: The manager says his being English will not keep him out of trouble. Marlow says, with assumed innocence, that no man is safe in that environment. Why does Marlow say this with "assumed" innocence?
329. P. 46: "... the stern-wheel flopped languidly.." languidly has several meanings: faintly, listlessly, without vigor or vitality, droopingly, weakly, without interest or spirit, indifferently, sluggishly, dully, or slowly. Which one or ones work best for this sentence?
330. P. 46: Marlow expects the engine to stop at any moment.
331. P. 46: "The manager displayed a beautiful resignation," Explain the juxtaposition of the two words; beautiful and resignation.
332.P. 46: Marlow ponders the futility of the situation and says "One gets sometimes a flash of insight. The essentials of this affair lay deep under the surface, beyond my power of meddling." What is Marlow really saying?
333. P. 46, Paragraph 3: It is only eight miles to Kurtz station and Marlow wishes to push on, but the manager, perhaps concerned about the warning note, decides that they should approach Kurtz' station only in daylight.
334. P. 46 The remaining journey will take about three hours and the distance is eight miles. What is the approximate speed of the steamboat?
MORE TO COME
II. Questions on the Collective Unconscious
III. New annotations
316. P. 45, continuing paragraph from Page 44: "Telegraphic style" indicates some sort of abbreviation. Charges on telegrams were based on the number of characters in the message.
317. P. 45: Twill is cloth woven with ribs.
318. P. 45: The things left in the hut indicate a white man had lived in it.
319. P. 45: Marlow discovers a book lacking covers and stitched together with cotton thread. The title of the book, An Inquiry into some Points of Seamanship (some is not capitalized in either of the texts I am using) was written by a Master of his Majesty's Navy.
320. P. 45: The text is filled with boring and repulsive charts. diagrams, and figures.
321. P. 45: The text reinforces British obsession with efficiency, but it is sixty years old.
322. P. 45: The text discusses various aspects of seamanship and uses the term "purchases" which refers to a fast hold applied to move something mechanically or to keep from slipping.
323. P. 45: Marlow sees the book as something unmistakeably real in the unreality of the situation. Stated differently: reality breaks into the jungle.
324. P. 45: The text of the book is annotated in what appears to be a "cipher" or code.
325. P. 45: Marlow describes the cipher as an "extravagant" mystery. Extravagant means to wander beyond (normal) bounds.
326. P. 46, continuing paragraph from Page 45: If this text is so very boring and repulsive, why does Marlow say, "I slipped the book into my pocket. I assure you to leave off reading was like tearing myself away from the shelter of an old solid friendship?"
327. P. 46, first new paragraph: The manager believes the wood, the message, and the book must have been left by the "intruder," the trader who together with Kurtz could be hanged. Marlow suggests the man is English.
328. P. 46: The manager says his being English will not keep him out of trouble. Marlow says, with assumed innocence, that no man is safe in that environment. Why does Marlow say this with "assumed" innocence?
329. P. 46: "... the stern-wheel flopped languidly.." languidly has several meanings: faintly, listlessly, without vigor or vitality, droopingly, weakly, without interest or spirit, indifferently, sluggishly, dully, or slowly. Which one or ones work best for this sentence?
330. P. 46: Marlow expects the engine to stop at any moment.
331. P. 46: "The manager displayed a beautiful resignation," Explain the juxtaposition of the two words; beautiful and resignation.
332.P. 46: Marlow ponders the futility of the situation and says "One gets sometimes a flash of insight. The essentials of this affair lay deep under the surface, beyond my power of meddling." What is Marlow really saying?
333. P. 46, Paragraph 3: It is only eight miles to Kurtz station and Marlow wishes to push on, but the manager, perhaps concerned about the warning note, decides that they should approach Kurtz' station only in daylight.
334. P. 46 The remaining journey will take about three hours and the distance is eight miles. What is the approximate speed of the steamboat?
MORE TO COME
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
INFORMATION FOR THE ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM 2011, STARTING AT THE TOP OF PAGE 43
I. Review of previous discussions
II. New annotations, starting at the top of Page 43
301. P. 43, continuing paragraph from Page 42: Why does the "night of first ages" leaves no sign and has no memories?
302. P. 43, first new paragraph: Jungle compared to a shackled animal.
303. P. 43: Watch this double negative: "No, they were not in human. Well, you know, that was the worst of it--this suspicion of their not being inhuman. It would come slowly to one." Marlow is saying that the natives are, indeed, human.
304. P. 43: Note the good grammar in the previous annotation: "... the suspicion of THEIR not being human." Most speakers of English make the mistake of using THEM in this structure. Marlow is not suspicious of the natives; he is suspicious of their not being inhuman. For example: I disliked HIS doing that, not I disliked HIM doing that.
305. P. 43: Again, we have the use of the pronoun "you" where one might expect "I" or "one."
306. P. 43: " Ugly. Yes, it was ugly enough; but if you were man enough you would admit to yourself that there was in you just the faintest trace of a response to the terrible frankness of that noise, a dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it which you--you so remote from the night of the first ages--could comprehend. And why not? The mind of man is capable of anything--because everything is in it, all the past as well as all the future." This is Carl Gustaf Jung's theory of Collective Unconscious. Please look these up on your own. I will give the basic information on this.
307. P. 43: Those of you who have read Macbeth, will recognize this extended clothing metaphor: "What was there after all? Joy, fear sorrow, devotion, valor, rage--who can tell?--but truth--stripped of its cloak of time. Let the fool gape and shudder--the man knows, and can look on without a wink. But he must meet that truth with his own true stuff--with his own inborn strength. Principles? Principles won't do. Acquisitions, clothes, pretty rags-- rags that would fly off at the first good shake. No; you want a deliberate belief. An appeal to me in this fiendish row--is there?" What is the fiendish row? What is being covered up by the cloak of time and the rags that would fly off?
308. P. 43: White-lead is a poisonous powder, basic lead carbonate used in making paint.
309. P. 44, continuing paragraph from Page 43: "by hook or by crook" means by any mean possible.
310. P. 44: a vertical boiler rises as cylinder with the fire at its bottom as opposed to a horizontal boiler with the fire under the length of the cylinder.
311. P. 44: The fireman looked out of place, much like a dog in breeches walking on its hind legs with a feather in its hat. He looked like a carnival act.
312. P. 44: The fireman was adorned in the tradition manner of a Central African, He had filed teeth and ornamental scars on his face.
313. P. 44: Thrall and its related words such as enthrall come from the Old English word thrall which means slave.
314. P. 44: The fireman believes there is an evil spirit in the boiler and it will exact a terrible vengeance if its thirst is ignored.
315. P. 44: An abandoned station contains a supply of wood for the steamboat together with a warning of trouble ahead up-river.
DEUS VOLENS!
II. New annotations, starting at the top of Page 43
301. P. 43, continuing paragraph from Page 42: Why does the "night of first ages" leaves no sign and has no memories?
302. P. 43, first new paragraph: Jungle compared to a shackled animal.
303. P. 43: Watch this double negative: "No, they were not in human. Well, you know, that was the worst of it--this suspicion of their not being inhuman. It would come slowly to one." Marlow is saying that the natives are, indeed, human.
304. P. 43: Note the good grammar in the previous annotation: "... the suspicion of THEIR not being human." Most speakers of English make the mistake of using THEM in this structure. Marlow is not suspicious of the natives; he is suspicious of their not being inhuman. For example: I disliked HIS doing that, not I disliked HIM doing that.
305. P. 43: Again, we have the use of the pronoun "you" where one might expect "I" or "one."
306. P. 43: " Ugly. Yes, it was ugly enough; but if you were man enough you would admit to yourself that there was in you just the faintest trace of a response to the terrible frankness of that noise, a dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it which you--you so remote from the night of the first ages--could comprehend. And why not? The mind of man is capable of anything--because everything is in it, all the past as well as all the future." This is Carl Gustaf Jung's theory of Collective Unconscious. Please look these up on your own. I will give the basic information on this.
307. P. 43: Those of you who have read Macbeth, will recognize this extended clothing metaphor: "What was there after all? Joy, fear sorrow, devotion, valor, rage--who can tell?--but truth--stripped of its cloak of time. Let the fool gape and shudder--the man knows, and can look on without a wink. But he must meet that truth with his own true stuff--with his own inborn strength. Principles? Principles won't do. Acquisitions, clothes, pretty rags-- rags that would fly off at the first good shake. No; you want a deliberate belief. An appeal to me in this fiendish row--is there?" What is the fiendish row? What is being covered up by the cloak of time and the rags that would fly off?
308. P. 43: White-lead is a poisonous powder, basic lead carbonate used in making paint.
309. P. 44, continuing paragraph from Page 43: "by hook or by crook" means by any mean possible.
310. P. 44: a vertical boiler rises as cylinder with the fire at its bottom as opposed to a horizontal boiler with the fire under the length of the cylinder.
311. P. 44: The fireman looked out of place, much like a dog in breeches walking on its hind legs with a feather in its hat. He looked like a carnival act.
312. P. 44: The fireman was adorned in the tradition manner of a Central African, He had filed teeth and ornamental scars on his face.
313. P. 44: Thrall and its related words such as enthrall come from the Old English word thrall which means slave.
314. P. 44: The fireman believes there is an evil spirit in the boiler and it will exact a terrible vengeance if its thirst is ignored.
315. P. 44: An abandoned station contains a supply of wood for the steamboat together with a warning of trouble ahead up-river.
DEUS VOLENS!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
INFORMATION FOR THE ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM 2011, STARTING AT THE TOP OF PAGE 39
I. Review of previous discussions
II. New annotations, starting at the top of Page 39
1. 264. Page 39: The manager quotes Kurtz.
2. 265. Page 39: The manager and his uncle are very close to Marlow in the boat.
3. 266. Page 39: The uncle asks about the managers health. The answer is like a "charm."
4. 267. Page 39: The manager states all the pilgrims are sick.
5. 268. Page 39: The uncle gestures to the jungle. Why does Marlow describe this as a "dishonoring flourish?"
6. 269. Page 39: Marlow describes the uncle's arm as a flipper. How does this contribute to the picture Marlow is giving us of the man?
7. 270. Page 39: Why does Marlow react so very strongly to the uncle's words and gesture?
8. 271. Page 39: What is the "fantastic invasion" the jungle for whose end the jungle is waiting?
9. 272. Page 39, Paragraph 2: Explain Marlow's description of the departure of the manager and the uncle.
10. 273. Page 40, Paragraph 1: Note the analogy on the return of the Eldorado Expedition into the jungle. Why is it appropriate?
11. 274. Page 40: Note the sarcasm on the death of the donkeys.
12. 275. Page 40: "When I say very soon I mean it comparatively. It was just two months from the day we left the creek when we came to the bank below Kurtz's station." Is this prolepsis?
13. 276. Page 40, Paragraph 2: The journey up-river begins.
14. 277. Page 40: Note the imagery in the description of the journey.
15. 278. Page 40: How can the pronoun switches among "I," "you," and "one" be justified?
16. 279. Page 40: Note the continued imagery and personification in the description of the journey.
17. 280. Page 40: Why is the stillness vengeful?
18. 281. Page 40: Note the difficulties of river navigation.
19. 282. Page 41, paragraph continuing from Page 40: "The inner truth is hidden--luckily,luckily." Marlow states reality fades. Why does reality fade? Why is good for Marlow that it does?
20. 283. Page 41: "I felt often its mysterious stillness watching me at my monkey tricks, just as it watches you fellows performing on your respective tight-ropes--for what is it?-- half a crown a tumble--" (text as punctuated in my British edition) Of what is Marlow accusing his listeners?
21. 284. Page 41: A crown is a formerly used British silver coin having a value of five shillings.
22. 285. Page 41: Marlow's comment elicits a growled response. Was it considered an insult?
23. 286. Page 41: "I beg your pardon. I forgot the heartache that makes up the rest of the price. And indeed what does the price matter, if the trick be well done? You do your tricks very well. And I didn't do badly either, since I managed not to sink that steamboat on my first trip." What is the price the listeners pay for their tricks? Is the comparison of the listeners' tricks to Marlow's successful navigation of the Congo River a valid one? If so, how? If not, why not?
24. 287. Page 41: Marlow's fears at the time and his present day flashbacks of sinking the boat continue to bother him.
25. 288. Page 41: At times the boat had become stuck on the bottom or sand bars. The cannibals helped to float the boat again.
26. 289. Page 41: Marlow was grateful that the cannibals did not eat each other before his face.
27. 290. Page 41: The cannibals brought hippo meat as their food. It became rotten.
28. 291. Page 41: The steamboat came to a number of small stations on the way.
29. 292. Page 41: The employees at the stations had the appearance of being held captive by a spell.
30. 293. Page 41: The word "ivory" would hang in the air upon the arrival of the steamboat. Does this reinforce ivory as the god of this enterprise?
31. 294. Page 42, continuing paragraph from page 41: The steamboat is a stern-wheeler as opposed to a side-wheeler. This means the paddle wheel is at the rear of the boat.
32. 295. Pare 42: Note the words "crept," "beetle," and "crawled" creating the insect extended insect metaphor, comparing the boat to a crawling insect.
33. 296. Page 42: A "portico" is a covered walkway or porch.
34. 296. Page 42: "The reaches opened before us and closed behind us, as if the forest had stepped leisurely across the water to bar the way for our return." The extended metaphor personifying the jungle continues.
35. 297. Page 42: "We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness." Here we have the "title sentence" of the novella.
36. 298. Page 42: Nightly roll of drums in the jungle could mean war, peace, or prayer.
37. 299. Page 42: Marlow sees his trip as a visit to a prehistoric earth or unknown planet. The boat comes to a village with the natives yelling and moving around. The natives reaction to the boat is incomprehensible to him. He does not know if the natives are praying or welcoming the boat.
38. 300:"We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before and enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse." There is more here than meets the eye: "enthusiastic" means possessed by the spirit of a god.
DE NIHILO NIHILUM, IN NIHILUM NIL POSSE REVERTI!
II. New annotations, starting at the top of Page 39
1. 264. Page 39: The manager quotes Kurtz.
2. 265. Page 39: The manager and his uncle are very close to Marlow in the boat.
3. 266. Page 39: The uncle asks about the managers health. The answer is like a "charm."
4. 267. Page 39: The manager states all the pilgrims are sick.
5. 268. Page 39: The uncle gestures to the jungle. Why does Marlow describe this as a "dishonoring flourish?"
6. 269. Page 39: Marlow describes the uncle's arm as a flipper. How does this contribute to the picture Marlow is giving us of the man?
7. 270. Page 39: Why does Marlow react so very strongly to the uncle's words and gesture?
8. 271. Page 39: What is the "fantastic invasion" the jungle for whose end the jungle is waiting?
9. 272. Page 39, Paragraph 2: Explain Marlow's description of the departure of the manager and the uncle.
10. 273. Page 40, Paragraph 1: Note the analogy on the return of the Eldorado Expedition into the jungle. Why is it appropriate?
11. 274. Page 40: Note the sarcasm on the death of the donkeys.
12. 275. Page 40: "When I say very soon I mean it comparatively. It was just two months from the day we left the creek when we came to the bank below Kurtz's station." Is this prolepsis?
13. 276. Page 40, Paragraph 2: The journey up-river begins.
14. 277. Page 40: Note the imagery in the description of the journey.
15. 278. Page 40: How can the pronoun switches among "I," "you," and "one" be justified?
16. 279. Page 40: Note the continued imagery and personification in the description of the journey.
17. 280. Page 40: Why is the stillness vengeful?
18. 281. Page 40: Note the difficulties of river navigation.
19. 282. Page 41, paragraph continuing from Page 40: "The inner truth is hidden--luckily,luckily." Marlow states reality fades. Why does reality fade? Why is good for Marlow that it does?
20. 283. Page 41: "I felt often its mysterious stillness watching me at my monkey tricks, just as it watches you fellows performing on your respective tight-ropes--for what is it?-- half a crown a tumble--" (text as punctuated in my British edition) Of what is Marlow accusing his listeners?
21. 284. Page 41: A crown is a formerly used British silver coin having a value of five shillings.
22. 285. Page 41: Marlow's comment elicits a growled response. Was it considered an insult?
23. 286. Page 41: "I beg your pardon. I forgot the heartache that makes up the rest of the price. And indeed what does the price matter, if the trick be well done? You do your tricks very well. And I didn't do badly either, since I managed not to sink that steamboat on my first trip." What is the price the listeners pay for their tricks? Is the comparison of the listeners' tricks to Marlow's successful navigation of the Congo River a valid one? If so, how? If not, why not?
24. 287. Page 41: Marlow's fears at the time and his present day flashbacks of sinking the boat continue to bother him.
25. 288. Page 41: At times the boat had become stuck on the bottom or sand bars. The cannibals helped to float the boat again.
26. 289. Page 41: Marlow was grateful that the cannibals did not eat each other before his face.
27. 290. Page 41: The cannibals brought hippo meat as their food. It became rotten.
28. 291. Page 41: The steamboat came to a number of small stations on the way.
29. 292. Page 41: The employees at the stations had the appearance of being held captive by a spell.
30. 293. Page 41: The word "ivory" would hang in the air upon the arrival of the steamboat. Does this reinforce ivory as the god of this enterprise?
31. 294. Page 42, continuing paragraph from page 41: The steamboat is a stern-wheeler as opposed to a side-wheeler. This means the paddle wheel is at the rear of the boat.
32. 295. Pare 42: Note the words "crept," "beetle," and "crawled" creating the insect extended insect metaphor, comparing the boat to a crawling insect.
33. 296. Page 42: A "portico" is a covered walkway or porch.
34. 296. Page 42: "The reaches opened before us and closed behind us, as if the forest had stepped leisurely across the water to bar the way for our return." The extended metaphor personifying the jungle continues.
35. 297. Page 42: "We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness." Here we have the "title sentence" of the novella.
36. 298. Page 42: Nightly roll of drums in the jungle could mean war, peace, or prayer.
37. 299. Page 42: Marlow sees his trip as a visit to a prehistoric earth or unknown planet. The boat comes to a village with the natives yelling and moving around. The natives reaction to the boat is incomprehensible to him. He does not know if the natives are praying or welcoming the boat.
38. 300:"We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before and enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse." There is more here than meets the eye: "enthusiastic" means possessed by the spirit of a god.
DE NIHILO NIHILUM, IN NIHILUM NIL POSSE REVERTI!
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