CANTO ONE: Reflections Of A Silky-Tailed Slain

[Paul Mackin]

On Wed, 2003-07-23 at 09:23, Tim Strzechowski wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Paul Mackin" <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
> To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 8:02 AM
> Subject: Re: CANTO ONE: Reflections Of A Silky-Tailed Slain
> 
> 
> > On Wed, 2003-07-23 at 08:10, Tim Strzechowski wrote:
> > > I disagree.
> > >
> > > What the *poet* has chosen for his purposes is "slain."  What the
> > > *commentator* has *interpreted* (not "corrected") this word as is
> "knocking
> > > itself out."
> >
> >
> > The important thing is that knocking oneself out or being knocked out
> > never implies that death has occurred. (sometimes death occurs LATER)
> 
> Absolutely right.  But "slain" does, which is what the poet has chosen.
> 
> >
> > It's a near death experience, such as Shade experienced on two
> > occasions.
> >
> 
> Good connection with the rest of the text.  Certainly possible.
> 
> >
> > The word "slain" is used by Shade because it's too hard to find a
> > dignified rhyme for knocked out.
> >
> 
> Well, I suppose, but since finding rhymes is an aesthetic challenge to any
> poet who has opted to write in heroic couplets, I'm not comfortable giving
> Shade an "out" like that.  Slain is the word of choice, and the word of
> choice is replete with connotations.  Kinbote ignores those connotations,
> revising the meaning of the couplet in his commentary.  I think both you and
> Charles are onto something with your connections b/t this couplet and the
> overall text.
> 
> Respectfully,
> 
> Tim


Anyway it's a great opening line.

Almost as good as all happy families are different.

Or was it all happy families are the same?

Can never remember.

P.