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| alcheringa:1-1:the_riddles_serbo-croatian_39 [2021/06/26 14:42] – james | alcheringa:1-1:the_riddles_serbo-croatian_39 [2022/03/22 20:53] (current) – [Context] copy editing kaitsass |
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| {{ :alcheringa:1-1:the-riddles-pages_from_alcheringa_1-1_fall-1970-6.pdf |}} | {{ :alcheringa:1-1:the-riddles-pages_from_alcheringa_1-1_fall-1970-6.pdf |}} |
| ==== Overview ==== | ==== Overview ==== |
| Traditionally, a riddle is a series of statements and questions with the expectation of a clear and concise answer given by the reader/recipient of the riddle. However, this piece titled "The Riddles (1)" is quite different. In this piece, there are ten short stanzas with titles/headings followed with a short description (varying from 2-4 lines) related to that preceding heading. Seven (Moon, Watermelon, Anthill, Eyes, Rooster, Bull and Smoke) of the ten items focus on nature, two (Washboard, and Canteen) focus on man-made items and one (Spark) focuses on a subjective topic. In these pieces, the "answer" is the title and the riddle is ascertaining how the title connects to the description. | Traditionally, a riddle is a series of statements and questions that lead to a clear and concise answer. However, this piece titled "The Riddles (1)" is quite different from what that definition would lead a reader to expect. This piece is made up of ten short stanzas, with each stanza containing a title or heading followed by a short description of between 2 to 4 lines. Seven of the ten items titling these riddles (Moon, Watermelon, Anthill, Eyes, Rooster, Bull, and Smoke) focus on nature, two (Washboard and Canteen) focus on man-made items, and one (Spark) focuses on a subjective topic. In these pieces, the "answer" to each riddle is the title or heading of the stanza and the riddle itself is asking reader to ascertain how the title connects to the description. |
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| The original writer of the poem is unknown but Charles Simic is the translator. Simic is an award winning Serbian-American poet and translator. He would eventually win the Pulitzer Prize later in life. | The original writer of the poem is unknown, but Charles Simic is the translator. Simic is an award winning Serbian American poet and translator and is a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. |
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| ==== Commentary ==== | ==== Commentary ==== |
| Since this poem is actually titled "The Riddles (1)" there could be "The Riddles (2)" but nothing indicates that at this time. From the research conducted, Charles Simic appears to be involved with a lot of Serbo-Croatian poetry that closely aligns with riddles. | Since this poem is titled "The Riddles (1)," there could reasonably be another piece entitled "The Riddles (2)," but there is not current evidence to suggest that any other poems in a series of that kind exist. |
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| What is interesting about these stanzas is that an "answer" appears to come before the description or the riddle. For example, in "Eyes" there are two ravens on what appears to be a horizontal plane not noticing each other. If you think about it carefully one eye can't see the other which is what is happening in this scene. | Something that is interesting about these stanzas is that an "answer" appears to come before the description or before the riddle itself. For example, in the stanza "Eyes," there are two ravens on what appears to be a horizontal plane not noticing each other. If you think about this riddle carefully, it becomes apparent that the eye of one raven can't see the eye of the other, which is how the riddle relates to the answer in the title. |
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| Additionally, Piotr Florczyk notes that Charles Simic is a poet as well and writes poetry that is full of mystique and riddles. Simic's style parallels the poetry he translates as "Anthill" seems quite dark and gruesome. | The research conducted about this piece shows that Charles Simic appears to be involved with a lot of Serbo-Croatian poetry that closely aligns with riddles. Additionally, Piotr Florczyk notes that Charles Simic is a poet as well and writes poetry that is full of mystique and riddles. Simic's style often parallels the poetry he translates. |
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| ==== Context ==== | ==== Context ==== |
| Serbian literature and oral stories are not mainstream but there is a chapter on it in this [[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_Serbian_Culture/gb3xOAAACAAJ?hl=en|book]]. Here is that [[http://www.rastko.rs/isk/nmilosevic-oral_tradition.html|chapter]]. Here is another [[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Oral_Art_Forms_and_Their_Passage_Into_Wr/dPBPHVf3kdoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA85&printsec=frontcover|piece]] focusing on the oral component of Serbian literature. | |
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| There is an audio recording of a poem called "[[https://poets.org/poem/riddle-audio-only|Riddle]]" by Charles Simac but interestingly it isn't the same as the one in //Alcheringa//. To me, this poem follows a more traditional expectation of a riddle. | Serbian literature and oral stories are not mainstream, but there is a chapter on them in this book, [[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_Serbian_Culture/gb3xOAAACAAJ?hl=en|book]], //The History of Serbian Culture//. That specific [[http://www.rastko.rs/isk/nmilosevic-oral_tradition.html|chapter]] can be found here. Another [[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Oral_Art_Forms_and_Their_Passage_Into_Wr/dPBPHVf3kdoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA85&printsec=frontcover|piece]] focusing on the oral component of Serbian literature can be found in this book, //Oral Art Forms and Their Passage Into Writing//. |
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| | There is also an audio recording of a poem called "[[https://poets.org/poem/riddle-audio-only|Riddle]]" by Charles Simic. Interestingly, it isn't the same as the one in //Alcheringa//. The recording of the poem follows more traditional expectations of what a riddle is. |
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| ==== Bibliography ==== | ==== Bibliography ==== |
| Pride, Mike. "Beautifully Crafted: Charles Simic's Poetry Remains Dark but Cheerful and Artful." Concord Monitor, Jul 27, 2008. ProQuest, https://proxy-iup.klnpa.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.proxy-iup.klnpa.org/newspapers/beautifully-crafted/docview/402963845/se-2?accountid=11652. | Pride, Mike. "Beautifully Crafted: Charles Simic's Poetry Remains Dark but Cheerful and Artful." Concord Monitor, Jul 27, 2008. ProQuest, https://proxy-iup.klnpa.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.proxy-iup.klnpa.org/newspapers/beautifully-crafted/docview/402963845/se-2?accountid=11652. |
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| {{tag>[Poem Europe Serbian Simic]}} | {{tag>[Poem Europe Print Nature Serbian Simic]}} |
