Maintained by: David J. Birnbaum (djbpitt@gmail.com)
Last modified:
2020-09-22T13:08:44+0000
Structure of the Igor′ tale (Nabokov)
(Excerpted from The Song of Igor’s Campaign, An Epic of the Twelfth Century. Translated
from the Old Russian by Vladimir Nabokov. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1960. [First
McGraw-Hill paperback edition 1975.] Line numbers refer to Nabokov’s edition.)
- Exordium 1–70
- Narration
- Bojan apostrophized 50–70
- Vsevolod’s speech 71–90 (let’s seek glory)
- Eclipse and Igor'’s speech 91–110 (let’s seek glory)
- Igor' sets out; accumulation of omens 111–30 (night, Div, squeaky
wagons)
- Igor' rides on 131–50
- First engagement 151–70 (Russians win)
- Night and dawn of Saturday 171–90 (Kumans prepare for next battle;
omens)
- Saturday Kuman counterattack 191–210 (Russians retreat)
- Vsevolod in battle 211–30 (fights bravely)
- Recollections of Oleg’s feuds 231–70 (Russia was harmed by feuding)
- Termination of battle 271–90 (Russians finally defeated)
- Defeat and Lamentations 291–350
- Victories of Svjatoslav III recalled 351–70
- Igor' blamed 371–90
- Conjuration
- Svjatoslav’s dream 391–410 (bad omens)
- Bojars explain Svjatoslav’s dream 411–50
- Svjatoslav’s speech 451–90 (“Golden Word”; criticizes Igor'’s vanity)
- Apostrophe to other princes 491–630
- Izjaslav recalled 591–610
- Vseslav of Polock’s fate recalled 631–90 (sung by Bojan)
- Euphrosyne’s (Jaroslavna’s) lament 691–730
- Liberation: Igor'’s escape 731–830
- Epilogue
- Igor'’s return 831–50
- Conclusion 851–60