Pale Fire/Vineland

[Paul Mackin]

On Tue, 2003-06-17 at 22:35, s~Z wrote:
>  >>>Actually, the poem begins with a death and a shadow or shade.  Zoyd
> doesn't smash into a window but into a clear pane of sugar. <<<
> 
> Actually Zoyd smashes into a window. As does a waxwing at the beginning of
> Pale Fire.
> 
> Yes, the window's pane was made of sugar.
> Yes, the waxwing died and had a shadeow.
> 
> 
Perhaps the bird only appears to be dead. It is not uncommon for one to
crash into a hard object and only be stunned, "knocking itself out" as
the commentary says. A few moments later it will get up and fly away.
The bird may actually experience going over to the other side, though
other birds will say, no, such was mere illusion.


P.