Vorkosigan

Ben C. Smith has published a pretty good review of my stuff on Mark's structure, zeroing in with unerring accuracy on all my weak spots. It's a damned useful review in many ways. In fact, Ben has led me to another set of insights on Mark 3 and some stuff that had unsettled me about it.

I've responded to Smith on my blog as this format here is unconducive.

Responding to Ben

Many thanks, Ben

Vorkosigan (Michael)

Ben C Smith

I just skimmed your response, Michael, and it looks very good. I shall take a closer look at it, of course, but my first impression is that it blows at least a couple of my objections clean away. Others, maybe not.

And it was awfully nice of you to absolve me from blame for using Mark 6.45-46 as an example of an unusual seam, when in fact it was entirely my fault. I had endeavored to avoid taking any examples from the Bethsaida section, since I knew that you question it as Marcan, but that one slipped through my fingers. Mea culpa, non tua.

I am also a few steps closer to understanding what you mean by structural arrangement over and against thematic. That has always confused me, and still does to some extent, but I think I am starting to grasp it. I would look forward to an upgrading of your chiastic rules, since their wording is, as you admit, not always perfect.

I will either update my page or add a new one sometime soon to reflect your response.

Thanks for the interaction.

Ben.