I often wonder: Do we understand a poem/story in
the exact way the author intended us to ?
While it is a challenge to the author to make it
as precise as possible, it is also a challenge to
the reader to understand the author's original
motivation.
That brings me to the question of making sense out
of foreign literature with no travel to foreign
lands nor exposure to foreign people.
How many of our english lecturers or professors
know about English life, I mean not bookish
knowledge but real first hand knowledge ?
Without such background wont our understanding be
incorrect or even misleading.
The expression "bright sunny morning" in cricket
commentaries by englishmen used to make feel that
it was "sweating" out there. But after living in
cold countries, the mere mention of the word sun
is very "soothing" to me.
Again, take Wodehouse par exemple. When he makes
specific references to street names like Oxford,
Regent etc., and London geography; how is a reader
in India who has never been to England going to
enjoy it completely. I dont know. May be they are
enjoying other aspects of his story telling. But
it is just not complete experience as wodehouse
would have intended his readers to have.
[This is just an example. Please dont ask me where
he used oxford street.]
So that brings me to my next amazement. Why do
they sell so many Sheldon/Ludlum novels, in our
railway stations/bus stands, about which neither
the seller nor majority of the readers have any
clue ?
madan mohan