Fenomén Jára Cimrman
The Phenomenon of Jára Cimrman
The greatest Czech who never lived: a fictional universal genius, a theatre built on perfect deadpan, and the TV poll he won so convincingly he had to be disqualified.
You will practice: Extended noun phrases and superlatives (k nejnavštěvovanějším divadlům), result clauses with natolik, že…, and reported supposition with měl údajně napsat (supposedly wrote).
Words to know
Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.
- géniusgenius
- vynálezceinventor
- skladatelcomposer
- háčekcatch, snag (also the diacritic mark)
- postavacharacter, figure
- divadlotheatre
- představeníperformance, show
- hraplay; game
- objevdiscovery
- žárovkalight bulb
- anketapoll, survey
- vítězstvívictory
- pobouřeníoutrage, indignation
- smůlabad luck
- nadhledperspective, detachment
Did you get it?
4 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.
1. What is the “small catch” about Jára Cimrman?
2. What are the two parts of every Cimrman theatre performance?
3. Why was Cimrman disqualified from the Greatest Czech poll?
4. According to the legend, whom did Cimrman advise on the light bulb?
Too hard? Pick an easier text in the Czech reading library. Understanding most of a text without translations is the goal — struggling through is not.