Teffi - "Nezhivoy zver' - rams, sheep, lambs

[Penelope Burt]

Well, by using "ram" you would not lose all connotations of sacrifice—it's a ram in the story of Abraham and Isaac. And "lamb" and "ram" do rhyme.
Penny Burt

On Feb 7, 2013, at 2:49 AM, Robert Chandler wrote:

> Dear all,
> 
> One of Teffi's finest and most tragic stories is about a child who, as her parents are splitting up and her world is falling apart, becomes very devoted to a wooly ram she has been given.
> 
> Here is the first mention of this creature:
> The evening was already drawing to a close, and the very smallest, loudly howling children were being got ready to go home, when Katya was given her main present – a large woolly ram.  He was all soft, with a long, meek face and eyes that were quite human.  He smelled of sour wool and, if you pulled his head down, he bleated affectionately and persistently: ‘Ba-a-a!’
> Вечер уже подходил к концу, и самых маленьких, громко ревущих ребят стали снаряжать к отъезду, когда Катя получила свой главный подарок — большого шерстяного барана. Он был весь мягкий, с длинной кроткой мордой и человеческими глазами, пах кислой шерсткой, и, если оттянуть ему голову вниз, мычал ласково и настойчиво: мэ-э!
> 
> I translated "baran" as "ram" without giving it much thought.  But people keep telling me it should be "sheep" or even "lamb", in English.  There is clearly good sense in this view.  I realise that "baran" is used more often, and more vaguely, than "ram".  And "igrushechnyi baran" seems to be quite a common phrase.  And "lamb" fits with the themes of the story.  The creature IS a sacrificial lamb (in the end it gets torn apart by rats) and Katya herself is a sacrificial lamb.
> 
> Nevertheless, I somehow feel happier leaving it as "ram", odd though this will seem to an English reader.  To an English reader it would only really sound right if the creature clearly has horns.  But the story contains no mention either of horns or of the absence of horns.
> 
> Any thoughts, anyone?
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Robert
> 
> 
> Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD
> 
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Penelope Burt
2151 California St NW, Apt 304
Washington DC 20008
phone: 202 332 4675
email: burt2151 at comcast.net

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