The Learned English Dog

[Dave Monroe]

Well, beyond an obvious awareness of the "learned"
animal shows of the period (there was in particular a
pig of some prominence), 
Pynchon seems to have gone to the effort to allude to
a specific comment of Samuel Johnson's in re: dogs 'n'
steaks, and there are some suggestively Pynchonian
themes at the very least at just the outset of Wm.
Empson's essay on "The English Dog."  And there's more
where that came from.  Some significant research = I
don't buy a simple "functional" explanation.  See, if
nothing else, the first link in the second set, and
the one subject-headinged "Ort" in teh first ...

But wading's the easy part, try diving into the deep
end and doing a few laps sometime.  Me, I need the
exercise, so ...

--- Toby G Levy <tobylevy at juno.com> wrote:

> Dave,
> 
> Not having th energy to wade through all the
> material you present. Is
> there anything in it to controvert my opinion that
> the dog is an
> invention of Wicks contrived to entertain the
> children?
> 
> Thanks,
> Toby
> 



		
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