Margarita Talk: Session 4

This week's discussion topics are brought to us by the always punctual RTS:

Comment on one or more of the following:

Chapter 16 (The Execution): How does Bulgakov's description of the crucifixion vary significantly from the Gospels? Why might he have chosen the perspective of Matthew Levi? What sticks out in the scene as very real, or very unpleasant, or very symbolic?

Chapters 17 and 18 (An Unquiet Day and Hapless Visitors): Select a specific incident to examine (such as the compulsory singers, the unexpected appearance of a kitten, the experience of Berlioz' uncle, or...). Does the episode reflect a particular aspect of Soviet life? If so, how? Does the episode contain something you find symbolic?

On the whole, what sort of picture do these two chapters paint of Moscow and the Muscovites? What motivates the characters? What gets them into trouble? What strategies get them out of trouble (or fail to get them out of trouble)? Are there innocent victims? What patterns do you see in the unholy trickery?

Margarita Talk: Session 3

This week I would like everyone to take a deep and thorough look at one chapter and report their analysis back to the group. In your post, you should address examples of symbolism, connections to on-going themes, and, more generally, the significance of the chapter in relation to what we have read so far. After posting your analysis, you should respond to at least one other comment in the thread.

Ready team? Here's the assignments:

Jared________Chapter 10
Matt S_______Chapter 11
Craig________Chapter 12
Paul_________Chapter 13
Matt J_______Chapter 14
Christin______Chapter 15

Margarita Talk: Session 2

Question for the second section of readings from cadenning:

Ivan Nikolayevich Ponyryov (pen name, Bezdomny)is a young poet who appears throughout the readings rather frequently and timely. We learn from the notes that his pen name, Bezdomny, means homeless in Russian. First of all, what do you think the translation of his pen name to homeless symbolizes in the context of the novel? And also, what does the story of Pilate have to do with Ivan? More specifically, how can you relate the place (literally and figuratively) Ivan is at the end of the readings to the larger story of Pilate and/or Jesus?

Margarita Talk: Session 1

This week's discussion prompt comes from the one and only rolliefngr777:

Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita is well known for its use of symbolism and historic reference. As an American reading a translated Russian novel, do you feel that Bulgakov's symbolic and historic references were easy to identify/understand? What examples of symbolism and historical reference did you deem to be the most significant or interesting?

BONUS QUESTION: What are your initial thoughts and first impressions of the novel thus far?

Reading Schedule

Here is the tentative reading schedule for The Master and Margarita. Each reading assignment will be due on a Wednesday. The responsibility for posting discussion questions/prompts will rotate among book club members. Discussion prompts should be posted the day after each reading assignment is due. This will give us 7 days to discuss each assignment before moving on to discuss the next part of the book.


CHAPTERS______________ DUE DATE

1 - 4____________________ 4/22
5 - 9____________________ 4/29
10 - 15__________________ 5/6
16 - 18__________________ 5/13
19 - 23__________________ 5/20
24 - 26__________________ 5/27
27 - Ep._________________ 6/3

The Chosen One

Well, we had a lot of great books to choose from and the vote tally was very close. Here are the results:

* The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov wins with 7 votes


Three books tied for second with 6 votes each:

* Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago

* Faust by Goethe

* Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

The Day of Reckoning

Okay boys and girls, it's time to decide which of our wonderful contestants will be selected as our next book. Please post a comment containing a list of the three books that you would most like to read next. Put a number in front of each book to indicate your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice. May the best book win!