Zusammenfassung von Leben und Ansichten von Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

The story in 10 parts

1. Key idea 1 · free to read

   The story begins before the hero is born

   Tristram Shandy begins his life story by blaming his parents. His mother chose the very moment they made him to ask his father whether he had remembered to wind the clock. Tristram says the question scattered the animal spirits that were meant to guide him safely into the world.

   The question has a reason behind it. His father, Walter Shandy, a retired Turkey merchant, winds a big clock on the first Sunday night of every month. He saves other family duties for the same night. In his wife's mind the clock and the marriage bed have become tied together.

   Walter holds a theory about everything and defends each one with real skill. He believes a child's conception, nose, and Christian name decide the course of a life. His brother, Captain Toby Shandy, is gentle and plain, and he whistles Lillabullero whenever he hears something absurd. The brothers talk past each other all through the book, and neither stops caring for the other.

   Tristram is born on the fifth of November 1718, but he takes his time getting there. A life begins long before the day of birth.

2. 2

   Yorick's kindness earns him the village's scorn

   Before Tristram is born, the book stops to tell of a village parson named Yorick.

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3. 3

   A father's theories shape his son's fate

   Walter Shandy believes a Christian name works like a kind of magic.

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4. 4

   Uncle Toby turns his wound into a hobby

   Toby was wounded in the groin at the siege of Namur, and he recovers for four years in his brother's London house.

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5. 5

   The birth night unfolds in the back parlor

   The night of Tristram's birth is spent in the back parlor, where Walter and Toby wait for news.

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6. 6

   Small accidents keep damaging Walter's hopes

   After the birth, bad luck arrives in a string.

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7. 7

   Toby's tender heart meets Widow Wadman's attention

   One chapter turns to a poor soldier, Lieutenant Le Fever, who lies ill at a village inn with his young son.

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8. 8

   Every person rides a hobby-horse of their own

   Tristram says a hobby-horse is any favorite pastime that a man rides along the King's highway.

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9. 9

   Opinions and words divide people and kindness joins them

   The book opens with a saying that what troubles people is not things, but their opinions about things.

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10. 10

    The book tells its tale by digression and play

    Tristram claims that digressions are the sunshine of reading.

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