Literary Influences in Tristram Shandy
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Questions and Answers

What is the title of the novel by Laurence Sterne that is also known as Tristram Shandy?

  • An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
  • The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (correct)
  • The Works of the Metaphysical Poets
  • Don Quixote

    • In which city was the first edition of Tristram Shandy printed?

  • Dublin
  • Edinburgh
  • York (correct)
  • London

    • Who did Arthur Schopenhauer consider Tristram Shandy to be one of?

  • The metaphysical poets
  • The modernist novelists
  • The four immortal romances (correct)
  • The eponymous characters

    • What narrative technique is usually associated with modernist novelists but has been suggested as a precursor in Tristram Shandy?

    <p>Stream of consciousness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which volume of Tristram Shandy finally reaches Tristram's birth?

    <p>Volume III</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What style is marked by digression, double entendre, and graphic devices in Tristram Shandy?

    <p>Narrative style</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who are the most familiar and important characters in the book besides Tristram?

    <p>Walter, Toby, Trim, Doctor Slop</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mishap led to Tristram's nose being crushed?

    <p>A difficult birth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the child Tristram ultimately named?

    <p>Trismegistus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant influence did Tristram's name have on his life according to his father's theory?

    <p>It led to a life of woe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what event did Tristram suffer an accidental circumcision?

    <p>Due to a chamberpot incident</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Sterne engage the reader in Tristram Shandy?

    <p>By involving them in interpreting a non-traditional plot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term did Sterne coin within the text of Tristram Shandy, which still holds the same meaning today?

    <p>Shandean</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who wrote a letter to Sterne in 1766 encouraging him to use his pen to advocate for the abolition of the slave trade?

    <p>Ignatius Sancho</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which literary work heavily influenced Sterne's novel Tristram Shandy?

    <p>Cervantes' Don Quixote</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who played the character of Toby in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Tristram Shandy in 2005?

    <p>Adrian Scarborough</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cartoonist adapted Tristram Shandy into a graphic novel?

    <p>Martin Rowson</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What philosophical framework did Sterne explore in Tristram Shandy, partially influenced by Locke?

    <p>Empiricism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which literary tradition has been argued as a possible classification for Tristram Shandy?

    <p>'Learned Wit'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what year was Tristram Shandy adapted into a film titled 'A Cock and Bull Story'?

    <p>2006</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who called Tristram Shandy one of 'the four immortal romances'?

    <p>Arthur Schopenhauer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which language has NOT had a translation of Tristram Shandy according to the text?

    <p>Japanese</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which modern authors have been influenced by Laurence Sterne's style in Tristram Shandy?

    <p>James Joyce and Virginia Woolf</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Hysterical realism' was noted by which critic as a precursor to authors like Salman Rushdie and Thomas Pynchon?

    <p>James Wood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Victorian critics accuse Sterne of in relation to his incorporation of other authors' work?

    <p>Artistic dishonesty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the first to note Sterne's borrowings from other authors in 'Tristram Shandy'?

    <p>John Ferriar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which book was the main source of ridicule for Sterne in 'Tristram Shandy' according to the text?

    <p>Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the basis of the notions of Tristram Shandy on the subject of perfect government?

    <p>A Utopian sketch by Robert Burton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which authors were major influences on Sterne and 'Tristram Shandy' according to the text?

    <p>Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Graham Petrie, what was the main purpose behind Sterne's rearrangements of borrowed passages in 'Tristram Shandy'?

    <p>To make them more humorous or sentimental</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who introduced the so-called paradox of Tristram Shandy in his book The Principles of Mathematics?

    <p>Bertrand Russell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Karl Popper's conclusion regarding Tristram Shandy's ability to finish writing his history of life?

    <p>He would have never finished it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which author mentioned the book Tristram Shandy in his writings, describing it as revealing the profoundest depths of the human soul?

    <p>Honoré de Balzac</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which novel does Anthony Trollope speculate about a character being descended from Dr Slop in Tristram Shandy?

    <p>Barchester Towers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where is Shandy Hall, the historic site named after the house described in Tristram Shandy, located?

    <p>Geneva, Ohio</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Walter Shandy attempt to build in the short story 'Oh Most Cursed Addition Engine' by H.S. Donnelly?

    <p>An addition engine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which film featuring Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson does a rancher defend himself for hanging an alleged cattle rustler without trial?

    <p>'The Missouri Breaks'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'The Case of the Bogus Books' in Perry Mason involves a bookseller selling stolen copies of rare books, including a first edition of what book?

    <p>'Tristram Shandy'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which philosopher came to the conclusion that Tristram Shandy would never finish writing his own story?

    <p>Karl Popper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which book does C.S. Lewis refer to the frequent use of 'my father' as a phrase?

    <p>Surprised by Joy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Tristram Shandy Overview

    • The novel by Laurence Sterne is commonly known as Tristram Shandy.
    • The first edition of Tristram Shandy was printed in York.
    • Arthur Schopenhauer considered Tristram Shandy among significant works of literature.

    Narrative Techniques and Themes

    • Tristram Shandy is noted for its use of digression, a narrative technique often linked to modernist novelists.
    • The volume where Tristram's birth is finally reached is the third volume of the novel.
    • The novel employs a style characterized by digression, double entendre, and graphic devices.

    Key Characters and Events

    • Important characters include Tristram, his father Walter, and Uncle Toby.
    • Tristram’s nose was crushed during a mishap involving his mother's labor.
    • Tristram is ultimately named after the character due to a misunderstanding at his birth.
    • His father theorized that his name significantly influenced his life's journey.

    Accidents and Reader Engagement

    • Tristram suffered an accidental circumcision due to an incident during his birth.
    • Sterne actively engages readers with playful narrative methods, including breaking the fourth wall.

    Influences and Adaptations

    • Sterne coined the term "Shandean," which persists in meaning related to his literary style.
    • A letter from a contemporary in 1766 encouraged Sterne to advocate for the abolition of the slave trade.
    • The influence of Cervantes's Don Quixote is evident in Tristram Shandy.

    Cultural Impact and Modern Interpretations

    • In 2005, Toby was portrayed by actor Kevin Eldon in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Tristram Shandy.
    • Cartoonist Lorenzo M. Mattotti adapted Tristram Shandy into a graphic novel.
    • The philosophical framework in Tristram Shandy is influenced by John Locke's ideas.
    • The novel has been classified within the fragmented narrative tradition.

    Adaptations and Recognitions

    • Tristram Shandy was adapted into the film A Cock and Bull Story in 2006.
    • It has been referred to as one of the "four immortal romances" by literary critics.

    Translation and Influence

    • Tristram Shandy reportedly has not had a translation into Russian.
    • Modern authors such as Salman Rushdie and Thomas Pynchon draw influence from Sterne's narrative style.
    • Hysterical realism has been identified by critic James Wood as a precursor style related to Tristram Shandy.

    Literary Critique and Borrowings

    • Victorian critics accused Sterne of plagiarism due to his work's incorporation of various authors' writings.
    • The initial acknowledgment of Sterne’s borrowings in Tristram Shandy came from literary scholar Stephen Pender.
    • Tristram Shandy served as a source of satire towards the work of Samuel Johnson.

    Philosophical and Literary Connections

    • The ideas on perfect government in Tristram Shandy stem from contemporary philosophical debates.
    • Major influences on Sterne include writers like Swift and Milton.
    • Graham Petrie suggested Sterne's rearrangements of borrowed passages served to enhance comedic effect.

    Paradoxes and Conclusions

    • Bertrand Russell introduced the paradox of Tristram Shandy regarding narrative completion.
    • Karl Popper humorously concluded that Tristram could never complete his own life story.
    • C.S. Lewis referenced Tristram Shandy for its exploration of human depth, particularly focusing on the phrase "my father."
    • Anthony Trollope speculated a character’s lineage from Dr. Slop in his own work.
    • Shandy Hall, named after the fictional house from Tristram Shandy, is located in Coxwold, North Yorkshire.

    Miscellanea

    • Walter Shandy attempts to construct an invention known as the "Addition Engine" in H.S. Donnelly's short story.
    • The film The Missouri Breaks, featuring Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson, includes a rancher defending his actions in a cattle rustling case.
    • The narrative of 'The Case of the Bogus Books' in Perry Mason mentions a first edition of Tristram Shandy being sold by a dishonest bookseller.

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    Description

    Explore the various literary influences on Laurence Sterne's novel Tristram Shandy, including works by Pope, Swift, Locke, Cervantes, Montaigne, and more. Understand how these diverse sources shaped the themes and style of this groundbreaking novel.

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