Eugene Onegin Readalong, 1 & 2
Eugene Onegin Readalong, 1 & 2
I am keeping up with the readalong, but not with the blog posting about the readathon. I have a new copy with a different translation--Stanley Mitchell--and I love it. I think it was Tom the Amateur Reader who told me that if the Deutsch translation was the one I'd read before, reading a different version would be like reading a different book, and it is. I'm very glad to be reading this for the second time, so I can absorb better! Tanglewood has these questions about the first two chapters:
Chapters 1 & 2 Questions
- First impressions of Eugene?
Honestly, Eugene is not the kind of guy I love. Society dandies drenched in ennui--no, thank you. Though I rather suspect that Pushkin is poking a little fun at the type, maybe?
- What do you make of the narrator's commentary?
He's humorous and a bit ironic while being sympathetic too. I think. I don't know of another poem where the narrator puts himself so much into the story as a writer. "Well, here I am at the end of Chapter 1. Off you go, little poem!" He breaks the fourth wall quite a lot.
- Thoughts on the characters sketched out in Chapter 2?
Lensky is a nice boy, though idealistic poets are also not my cup of tea. Olga is a sweet girl, and though she is supposed to lack depth, she is something like 17 years old so that is not very worrying. Tatiana I love, though if she were my kid I'd want to make her go outside and get some exercise. I'd worry about her a bit, what with the never playing, but she is a lovely girl.
Ongoing Questions
- Reactions and/or predictions?
Well, I'm enjoying it, don't know that I have much else to say right now. I already read it once so I know what's going to happen.
- Any quotes or passages that stand out?
I think this translation is better than the one I read first, so I'm much happier with it this time. It flows better, I think.
I am keeping up with the readalong, but not with the blog posting about the readathon. I have a new copy with a different translation--Stanley Mitchell--and I love it. I think it was Tom the Amateur Reader who told me that if the Deutsch translation was the one I'd read before, reading a different version would be like reading a different book, and it is. I'm very glad to be reading this for the second time, so I can absorb better! Tanglewood has these questions about the first two chapters:
Chapters 1 & 2 Questions
- First impressions of Eugene?
Honestly, Eugene is not the kind of guy I love. Society dandies drenched in ennui--no, thank you. Though I rather suspect that Pushkin is poking a little fun at the type, maybe?
- What do you make of the narrator's commentary?
He's humorous and a bit ironic while being sympathetic too. I think. I don't know of another poem where the narrator puts himself so much into the story as a writer. "Well, here I am at the end of Chapter 1. Off you go, little poem!" He breaks the fourth wall quite a lot.
- Thoughts on the characters sketched out in Chapter 2?
Lensky is a nice boy, though idealistic poets are also not my cup of tea. Olga is a sweet girl, and though she is supposed to lack depth, she is something like 17 years old so that is not very worrying. Tatiana I love, though if she were my kid I'd want to make her go outside and get some exercise. I'd worry about her a bit, what with the never playing, but she is a lovely girl.Ongoing Questions
- Reactions and/or predictions?
Well, I'm enjoying it, don't know that I have much else to say right now. I already read it once so I know what's going to happen.
- Any quotes or passages that stand out?
I think this translation is better than the one I read first, so I'm much happier with it this time. It flows better, I think.
Poking fun - yes, I think so. Poking fun at himself, even.
ReplyDeleteI have not even started yet, but I knew that schedule would not work for me. I'll likely gulp the book down. So I'll catch up.