Talk:The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket/GA1

GA Review[edit]

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Well written

I have not read this novel but the summary is very thorough and describes the book well.

"from their parents" - about what age are Arthur and Augustus?
"A mutiny has erupted on the whaling ship."; "has abandoned the ship" -> "had" When Augustus explains it, it was in the past.
Tsalal and Too-Wit do not need to be italicised.
colour - shouldn't this article use American spelling?
The colour white is alien to them and scares the natives, since nothing white can be found on Tsalal. (Even the teeth of the natives are black.) -> The colour white is alien to them and scares the natives since nothing white can be found on Tsalal (even the teeth of the natives are black).
The relationships with the white crew of the Jane Guy are... -> The relationship with the white crew of the Jane Guy is...
All of the whites, with the exception of Pym and Dirk Peters, perish -> All of the whites except Pym and Dirk Peters perish
In the novel, Poe mentions by name Captain James Cook. Cook circumnavigated the globe aboard the Resolution and reached 70°10' latitude, and this adventure is recounted in Chapter XVI. -> In the novel, Poe mentions by name Captain James Cook, whose circumnavigation of the globe aboard the Resolution that reached 70°10' latitude is recounted in Chapter XVI.
What makes it "One of Poe's least accessible works"?
"most scholars, other than many in France," explain this - nothing else is mentioned about France.

Factual accuracy

Very well referenced!

Broadness

This article has everything I'd ever want to know about the novel, except how many chapters there are.

NPOV

Neutral

Stability

Stable

Images

All have source and author

Great article overall! I'm watching this review and I'll be back when you've made corrections. Reywas92 ^Talk 01:32, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the encouragement and the assessment. I've incorporated most of the suggested changes in the plot section for which I feel kind of responsible, with the exception of --

colour - shouldn't this article use American spelling?

I'm not sure what the WP policy is. As a European, I tend to think that British English is the "correct" way, but I have no idea if this is official policy?

In the novel, Poe mentions by name Captain James Cook. Cook circumnavigated the globe aboard the Resolution and reached 70°10' latitude, and this adventure is recounted in Chapter XVI. -> In the novel, Poe mentions by name Captain James Cook, whose circumnavigation of the globe aboard the Resolution that reached 70°10' latitude is recounted in Chapter XVI.

Frankly, I found the original wording more readable than the nested relative clauses suggested.

What makes it "One of Poe's least accessible works"?

Erm. Well. You know... it's kind of... reading and books and stuff... ;-) Seriously, IIRC I introduced that phrase due to gut feeling, but of course you're right, there ought to be some more authoritative source than my innards. I'll dig.

Cheers, --Syzygy (talk) 10:59, 7 April 2009 (UTC) (Edited for legibility)[reply]

"Correct"? Bite your tongue!! :) Actually, according to WP:ENGVAR, an article with strong national ties should stick with that nationality's spelling (i.e. an American book uses American spelling). So, I'll make "colour" be "color". As far as the "least accessible", I think the article explains that quite well with the two quotes that show the novel's craziness in genre/definition. --Midnightdreary (talk) 12:19, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, and as far as age, the novel isn't clear. Gordon sort of recounts his education, etc. on the first page and mentions that, at age 16, he met Augustus, who was two years older. It doesn't really indicate, however, how long after meeting the story takes place. It's generally assumed they were relatively young - teenagers, I'd guess - but nothing explicit. By the end, Gordon seems to be much older. --Midnightdreary (talk) 12:23, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, of course you're right, Dreary. I was tempted to write "juveniles" or "teenagers", but both seemed oddly out of place. --Syzygy (talk) 06:52, 8 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, and France... the article states much later that the novel has a big influence on France, including Baudelaire and Verne. I know there's a huge gap between these pieces of info, but it's roughly explained. I wish I could do more but I don't have a copy of The French Face of Edgar Allan Poe, which certainly would explain more in-depth. --Midnightdreary (talk) 12:25, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Changes look good. Where does Chapter XIV go? I'm sure it's a typo, but it's left out. Could "Even so, most scholars, other than many in France," be changed to "Even so, most American scholars" since France isn't mentioned until a later section? Would a better wording for Cook be "In Chapter XVI, Poe reecounts Captain James Cook's circumnavigation of the globe aboard the Resolution that reached 70°10' latitude."? That really shouldn't be two sentences. Reywas92 ^Talk 01:03, 8 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Found chapter XIV and added it to the appropriate the subheadings. I've reworked the line about France - I don't think it appropriate to change to "most American scholars" because that is not what the source says. The source really does say that everyone outside of France ignored it until the 1950s. The way it's written, I think, will make this clear without being too distracting. --Midnightdreary (talk) 01:21, 8 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Chapter XIV was my bad. Once the fingers on your hands can't do the trick anymore, my counting goes down the drain. (Or "scupper", in this context. ;-) --Syzygy (talk) 06:52, 8 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Congratulations, this is a Good Article! I hope to see you at WP:FAC soon! Reywas92 ^Talk 01:42, 8 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Luau! And kudos to Dreary & Paine! --Syzygy (talk) 06:52, 8 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]