The Mazeppa Legend
In my readings related to the presentation of the Mazeppa legend to the sixth-grade class next week, I have read three versions of the tale and Byron's epic poem. They are:
- Mazeppa, The Chief of the Cossacks by Lawton B. Evans
- Mazeppa, The Cossack Chief by Charles Morris
- Mazeppa, The Hetman of the Cossacks, Russia - 1709 by M.B. Synge
- Mazeppa by Lord Byron
I found the Morris version to be the least useful, as it is a version of the tale which preserves many elements of the archaic narrative of which it is a part, and because it is generally vague and difficult to follow despite being the lengthier version of the three. The Synge version is more useful, providing vivid and captivating description, though it is laden with many historical anachronisms. My version of the Mazeppa legend will be most heavily based on the Evans selection. Evans' narrative achieves a balance between detail and clarity, and will be the most useful template to follow for the purposes of the sixth-grade presentation next week.
Karolya's "Storytime Mazeppa" to be submitted tomorrow morning as scheduled.
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