Tristram Shandy Questions and Answers
Tristram Shandy
Discuss Tristram's statement on digressions in the novel Tristram Shandy.
Tristram asserts that the digressions in his story build characters indirectly and advance the story subtly. However, the main reason for them is that they add color and interest to the story, making...
Tristram Shandy
How does Tristram define a hobby-horse, and why does he decide to characterize his uncle Toby through it, in Tristram...
In Tristram Shandy, Tristram defines a hobby horse in chapter 24 of book 1 as a key to understanding a person's soul. He will draw his Uncle Toby's character from his hobby-horse because he believes...
Tristram Shandy
In Tristram Shandy, how does the novel end and what are its implications?
In Tristram Shandy, the novel ends with Yorick's statement that this is "a cock and bull" story. This refers both to a story just being told which is literally about a bull's cock, but also to the...
Tristram Shandy
What is the function of the sermon episode in Tristram Shandy and what do characters' reactions symbolize?
The sermon episode in Tristam Shandy functions to offer Sterne's definition of human decency. Such decency is not based on conscience, which can easily deceive us, but on treating others with...
Tristram Shandy
In Tristram Shandy, what does Tristram mean by "the digressive and progressive movements" in his work?
Tristram Shandy refers to the progressive movement as the quality that his story shares with all others, a simple progression from beginning to end. The digressive movement, however, is the one that...
Tristram Shandy
What connections exist between Tristram Shandy and Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding?
The connections between "Tristram Shandy" and Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding involve a critique of Locke's theories of association. Sterne references Locke to highlight that many do...
Tristram Shandy
How do the opening pages of Tristram Shandy introduce the distinctive traits of the Shandy family, such as Walter's...
The opening chapters of Tristram Shandy prepare us for the distinctive trait of Walter Shandy's eccentric theorizing by informing us of his idea that Tristram turned out to be odd because his...
Tristram Shandy
What is the reader's role in constructing textual meaning in Tristram Shandy?
In Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy, the reader plays a crucial role in constructing textual meaning. The narrator engages directly with the reader, turning the reading experience into a...