the master and margarita.notebook - Calverton School · the master and margarita.notebook Intro and...

the master and margarita.notebook

Intro and Chapter 1 1

January 05, 2010

the master and margarita

by

mikhail bulgakov

translated by

diana burgin and katherine tiernan o'connor

CRITICAL VOCABULARY from The Master and Margarita

Epigraph: a quotation or motto placed at the beginning of a book, chapter, or poem as an indication of its theme. (1)

Allusion: A reference to a literary or artistic work outside the text. (1)

Acronym: a term formed by sounding the initials of a longer title: eg. NASA, CIA, FBI. (3)

Intertext(­uality): According to Roland Barthes, no text can be read outside its relation to other, already existing texts. These relationships my take many forms including parody, pastiche, allusion, imitation, etc.

Register: In linguistics, a register is a subset of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting.

the master and margarita.notebook

Intro and Chapter 1 2

January 05, 2010

...and so who are you, after all?

­­I am part of the power which forever wills evil and forever works good.

Goethe's Faust

The Master and Margarita

Chapter 1

the master and margarita.notebook

Intro and Chapter 1 3

January 05, 2010

Introductory stuff:

* Note the Commentary (337 ff.)

* Doctor Faustus. Christopher Marlowe

Faustian Registers:3: Scorched/Hot3: Supernatural4: "time to throw everyting to the devil"4: "what the devil"6: Poodle Head7: "where in hell did he learn..."11: "Damn"12: Black Magic

First page

* Title: "Never talk to strangers"

* First paragraphs: close reading

* Hector Berlioz: "The Damnation of Faust"

* Character namesNOTE: KEEP A LIST OF ALL THE CHARACTERS'S NAMES!These Russian names may get confusing for us.

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Intro and Chapter 1 4

January 05, 2010

Strange events (defamiliarized reality!)

* Carnivalesque*No one is seen 3* Berlioz's internal sensation 4* Hot air congealing 4* The Stranger 5ff

Official Soviet Stance on Religion

* Atheism 7* Berlioz's critique of

Bezdomny's poem: "too real"* Stranger's "proof" of God 8* "Jesus did exist" 12

Critique of Soviet State

"BEER AND COLD DRINKS" 4Xenophobia 6, 11

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Intro and Chapter 1 5

January 05, 2010

Foreshadowing

* Departing sun 6* Cancer 9* Streetcar 9* Annushka 10* Berlioz's death 10* Bezdomny in mental hospital 11* History will take place 12

Major Theme(s)

1. In the Soviet Union atheism was the official position. Bulgakov, via the Professor, disagrees; he asks: "if there is no God, then, the questieon is, who is in control of man's life and the whole order of things on earth?" 8

2. The Soviet Revolution promised equality and prosperity for all individuals. Bulgakov critiques this promise, showing the inequality and the breakdown of Russian life and traditional values.

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Intro and Chapter 1 6

January 05, 2010

Narratology of Chapter 1

* Limited omniscient: "...he [Berlioz] thought, 'What's wrong with me?" 4"...exclaimed [Woland] ... looking around furtively for some reason...." 7

* Extradiegetic level:"And here it is worth noting .... Absolutely no one was to be seen...." 3

* Heterodiegetic involvement

* UnreliableIf no one was present (3), then how can witnesses describe the event (5)?

* Intrusive:"Afterward, when, frankly speaking, it was already too late...." 5

* Plural:"We should add that all of the reports were worthless." 5

Narratee: "...and his face, please note, had a jeering look about it." 4

*NOTE: (metadiegetic) change at last paragraph of the chapter!

The Great Chain of Being

Dionysius the Areopagite (late 5th­early 6th Century)

Rule of the Triad

GodSeraphim

CherabimThrone

VirtuesAngels Dominations

PowersPrincipalities

ArchangelsAngels

SaintsPope

ManFool

MLDomesticated

AnimalsSavage

BeneficialPlant

Poisonous

Earth_________________________________________________

MonstersDevil

98

76

54

32

1

Attachments

Witches_.ppt