CANTO ONE: Reflections Of A Silky-Tailed Slain

[Paul Mackin]

On Wed, 2003-07-23 at 09:35, Paul Mackin wrote:
> 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.

Answer: it depends on whether you're reading Ada or Anna Karenina.