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How I Met Nastenka
The Cathedral of St Isidore, St Petersburg, in the small hours.
A view along the Griboyedov Canal in St Petersburg, from the Semimost’ye, looking towards the Church of St Isidore at the end of a ‘white night’ in June 2018. The church was built in 1907, so it was not here in Dostoevsky’s day. St Petersburg is on roughly the same latitude as Shetland, and during June the nights remain light, creating a romantic mood that a ‘dreamer’ such as the narrator of Dostoevsky’s story had little hope of resisting — even had he wanted to to resist it.
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A view along the Griboyedov Canal in St Petersburg, from the Semimost’ye, looking towards the Church of St Isidore at the end of a ‘white night’ in June 2018. The church was built in 1907, so it was not here in Dostoevsky’s day. St Petersburg is on roughly the same latitude as Shetland, and during June the nights remain light, creating a romantic mood that a ‘dreamer’ such as the narrator of Dostoevsky’s story had little hope of resisting — even had he wanted to to resist it.
Introduction
‘White Nights’ (1848) is set in St Petersburg during those enchanted June nights when the sun barely dips below the horizon. It was on such a night that the unnamed narrator of Dostoevsky’s tale caught his first glimpse of the woman he came to know as Nastenka, and he was far too highly strung to resist the spell.
Leaning on the canal railing stood a woman with her elbows on the rail; she was apparently looking with great attention at the muddy water of the canal. She was wearing a very charming yellow hat and a jaunty little black mantle. “She’s a girl, and I am sure she is dark,” I thought. She did not seem to hear my footsteps, and did not even stir when I passed by with bated breath and loudly throbbing heart. “Strange,” I thought; “she must be deeply absorbed in something,” and all at once I stopped as though petrified. I heard a muffled sob. Yes! I was not mistaken, the girl was crying, and a minute later I heard sob after sob. Good Heavens! My heart sank. And timid as I was with women, yet this was such a moment!... I turned, took a step towards her, and should certainly have pronounced the word “Madam!” if I had not known that that exclamation has been uttered a thousand times in every Russian society novel. It was only that reflection stopped me.
In his short story White Nights, Dostoevsky’s narrator describes how he saw a girl by canal side, leaning over the railings and staring into the waters. As he came nearer, he realised that she was crying — and shy though he was, he resolved to speak to her, though the words that came first into his mind were frustratingly melodramatic. (59 / 60 words)
In his short story White Nights, Dostoevsky’s narrator describes how he saw a girl by canal side, leaning over the railings and staring into the waters. As he came nearer, he realised that she was crying — and shy though he was, he resolved to speak to her, though the words that came first into his mind were frustratingly melodramatic.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, besides, despite, otherwise, since, until, whether.
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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