Nabokov- Organization

Question #5

          Vladimir Nabokov’s essay, “Good Readers and Good Writers” is organized logically. One or two paragraphs are devoted to each topic sequentially. Various, seemingly unrelated, points are made with each topic. At the end of the piece, Nabokov brings together all of the topics, relating each point back to the others. Readers are not left with the impression of a disorganized bunch of topics, but rather a unified whole that teaches them about the balance required to be a good reader or a good writer.

            Vladimir’s first topic is of the lack of truth found in a work of literature. It is a topic that catches the reader’s attention, for oftentimes we read with the purpose of learning something new. However, Nabokov takes another view. “We should always remember that the work of art is invariably the creation of a new world.” There is no element of truth, he says. For the next topic, he goes on to describe the purpose of the writer, and describes the unification of the writer and reader for the first time. After this description, he comes to an abrupt halt and gives the readers a little quiz. After the quiz, he begins to draw the essay to a close by describing the perfect reader, the perfect writer, and the three traits required in a great writer. This logical organization resounds with the reader while the conclusion brings every separate topic together.

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Good Readers and Good Writers." Lecture