NOTE: Be sure to read the post below this one for Exam #2 information and the updated schedule.
Zoschenko (all stories): pp.247-259
Dobychin (all stories): pp.261-265
Shalamov (all stories): pp. 320-331
Answer 2 of the following questions:
How does Zoschenko mock the idea of Soviet progress and the equality promised by Communism? What truths do his ironic little stories help his countrymen (and other readers) see? Consider the following line from his story, “Electrification”: “Light’s all very well, brothers, but it’s not easy to live with.”
In some ways, the characters in Zoschenko and Dobychin’s stories, though free and living in cities, are similar to the prisoners of Siberia in Shalamov’s tales. Why is this? How do they often act similarly, and forget their basic humanity in naked self-interests?
Why do you think Dobychin’s stories are so unfinished? Each one seems to begin and end without development, merely showing a few quick scenes or bits of dialogue before fading away. Why might he have wanted the stories to seem incomplete or unsatisfying?
In Shalamov’s story, “The Snake Charmer,” he chides his friend who tells stories to the other criminals in camp, saying, “I’ve never told novels for soup.” Why does he, as an educated man, refuse to tell the stories he’s read for the illiterate prisoners? What does he mean when he says “that always seemed the ultimate humiliation?”
Cera Miller
ReplyDelete1. In many ways, life has gotten worse under the new government. People didn’t realize just how “bad off” they were, until the lights came on. Where they had been happy with what they had, now they know that what they had was not all that great. They had been ignorant and happy. What they had was bad, but at least they didn’t know, and they now have to face the reality, which they don’t want to do.
3. The way the stories are written, unfinished, no beginning or end, and feeling incomplete and unsatisfying all parody what is happening in the stories. The stories are unfinished and have no beginning or end because it is merely and glimpse at a day in the life of the people in the stories; their respective lives have had and will have many more years. And these lives are not happy, good, or satisfying to the people living them. Their lives are cold, repressed, and harsh. This is art imitating life. I do not believe Dobychin loved the Russia he was living in.
Albanie Beck
ReplyDelete1. In the "Electrification" story the people thing that getting electricity is going to be awesome and they were moving up in society. but once the lights come on they soon realize that they live like pigs and their apartment is dirty and they couldn't believe their eyes. the man spends a lot of money to fix their apartment and his wife cuts off the power. since the lights were off they couldn't see it so they didn't know. I know in my there are some days I just want to keep lights off and pretend like the mess isn't there.
4. in this story they wanted to find someone that could read or tell them stories. when they found someone who could he got special treatment just as long as he told them stories or read to them. the guy never knew that reading would get him food. the prisoners liked listening to his stories because they could so called escape from their lives. even though we may not have awful lives we never really like hearing or talking about our own. we would rather listen to someone else's problems. or if their life is better we seem to imagine in our head a new and better life.
Darryn York
ReplyDelete1. They were happy to get electricity, but once they did and the lights came on, they saw how filthy they were living and they were disgusted and were in disbelief. It's like the took a look in the mirror, they could finally actually see what a mess it was. The wife couldn't stand looking at it so she shut the power off. I think everyone has days like that. Some days when I come home to a filthy room, I don't turn the lights off, but I try to over look it until i'm ready to face the mess and clean it.
3. I believe Dobychin does this purposely. I think he does this to make the reader want more and keep you on your toes. Also this style keeps you wondering and there is no clear cut answer to what happens next, instead of satisfying your mind with a clear ending.