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.

the master and margarita.notebook

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.

the master and margarita.notebook

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