[Vwoolf] "What a lark! What a plunge!" (Could Woolf have had the bird in mind?)

Caroline Webb caroline.webb at newcastle.edu.au
Mon Jun 29 00:25:13 EDT 2020


I always associated “What a lark!” with Joe’s “What larks, Pip!” in Great Expectations, meaning “what fun!”
Caroline

From: Vwoolf <vwoolf-bounces+caroline.webb=newcastle.edu.au at lists.osu.edu> On Behalf Of Sunjoo Lee via Vwoolf
Sent: Monday, 29 June 2020 2:21 PM
To: vwoolf at lists.osu.edu
Subject: [Vwoolf] "What a lark! What a plunge!" (Could Woolf have had the bird in mind?)


Dear Woolfians,



I am wondering about those two phrases in the opening of Mrs. Dalloway.

I have always thought the "lark" to be the bird; that Clarissa on that morning saw a lark (flying high), admired it, saw it plunge, and admired it also.



Then I seem to remember someone becoming incredulous when I said something to that effect discussing the opening of the novel.

I happen to have a French translation, and it rendered them: "La bouffée de plaisir! le plongeon!" Obviously the translator thought the "lark" to be more

along the lines of "sudden outburst of...."



Is this contested? Or is it definitely *not* the bird?

I would appreciate if you let me know what you think.



All best,

Sunjoo Lee












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