Difference between revisions of "Chapter 5"

(alter kocker)
Line 4: Line 4:
  
 
113/118 -- '''Mikolaj Rej'''<br />
 
113/118 -- '''Mikolaj Rej'''<br />
Renaisance era Polish poet, commonly held as one of the founders of Polish literature.  An article by the ''Finish Maritime Index'' (Brzoza, K. "Finish Maritime Sisters" 04-05) lists a cargo ship of the sizable ''Wihuri'' class under just such a name, operated by Polish Ocean Lines of Gdynia.   
+
Renaisance era Polish poet, one of the founders of Polish literature.  An article by the ''Finish Maritime Index'' (Brzoza, K. "Finish Maritime Sisters" 04-05) lists a cargo ship of the sizable ''Wihuri'' class under just such a name, operated by Polish Ocean Lines of Gdynia.   
  
 
123/128 -- '''killed and boiled a catechumen'''<br />
 
123/128 -- '''killed and boiled a catechumen'''<br />
Line 15: Line 15:
 
Referring, of course, to the author of detective novels such as ''The Maltese Falcon''.
 
Referring, of course, to the author of detective novels such as ''The Maltese Falcon''.
  
128/134 '''Taken a Brody'''
+
128/134 '''Taken a Brody''' <br />
 
This colorful term refers to Steve Brody, 1st man to survive a jump off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1885.
 
This colorful term refers to Steve Brody, 1st man to survive a jump off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1885.
 +
 +
133/139 '''alter kocker''' <br />
 +
Jewish phrase of German origin, literally "old defecator" but describes someone who is "inept at everything they do" (see [http://members.tripod.com/talk_jewish/id19.htm Talking Jewish])
  
  

Revision as of 07:14, 18 October 2007

Please keep these annotations SPOILER-FREE by not revealing information from later pages in the novel.
492-page edition / 547-page edition

112/117 -- Walter Reuther
Walter Philip Reuther (September 1, 1907 – May 9, 1970) was a labor leader with the UAW & CIO.

113/118 -- Mikolaj Rej
Renaisance era Polish poet, one of the founders of Polish literature. An article by the Finish Maritime Index (Brzoza, K. "Finish Maritime Sisters" 04-05) lists a cargo ship of the sizable Wihuri class under just such a name, operated by Polish Ocean Lines of Gdynia.

123/128 -- killed and boiled a catechumen
A catechumen is a "learner," one who is being instructed in the Christian faith. In the early church, a catechumen was one who underwent rigorous instruction in preparation for Holy Baptism. The word comes from the Greek and means "to echo" or "sound in the ear." Catechumens were traditionally taught through question and answer, with the answer echoing back what was first taught. A catechism is a book of instruction, often in the form of questions and answers. [1]

123/129 -- Mafia

According to Molly Hite in Ideas of Order in the Novels of Thomas Pynchon, "Mafia is a parody of Ayn Rand, whose influence was at its peak in the early sixties when V. first appeared." [2]

127/133 "All quite mysterious and Dashiell Hammettlike"
Referring, of course, to the author of detective novels such as The Maltese Falcon.

128/134 Taken a Brody
This colorful term refers to Steve Brody, 1st man to survive a jump off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1885.

133/139 alter kocker
Jewish phrase of German origin, literally "old defecator" but describes someone who is "inept at everything they do" (see Talking Jewish)


References

  1. Lutheran Church Liturgical Glossary
  2. Hite, Molly, Ideas of Order in the Novels of Thomas Pynchon, Ohio State University Press, 1983p.162, fn.13


Chapter 1
In which Benny Profane, a schlemihl and human yo-yo, gets to an apocheir
9/1
Chapter 2
The Whole Sick Crew
44/39
Chapter 3
In which Stencil, a quick-change artist, does eight impersonations
61/59
Chapter 4
In which Esther gets a nose job
95/97
Chapter 5
In which Stencil nearly goes West with an alligator
111/115
Chapter 6
In which Profane returns to street level
134/141
Chapter 7
She hangs on the western wall
152/161
Chapter 8
In which Rachel gets her yo-yo back, Roony sings a song, and Stencil calls on Bloody Chiclitz
213/229
Chapter 9
Mondaugen's story
229/247
Chapter 10
In which various sets of young people get together
280/305
Chapter 11
Confessions of Fausto Maijstral
304/333
Chapter 12
In which things are not so amusing
347/385
Chapter 13
In which the yo-yo string is revealed as a state of mind
367/407
Chapter 14
V. in love
393/437
Chapter 15
Sahha
415/461
Chapter 16
Valletta
424/471
Epilogue, 1919
456/507
Personal tools