# The Tomb of Pan explained — Fifty-One Tales

> Chapter companion for Fifty-One Tales by Lord Dunsany.

## What happens

The enlightened people build a grand marble tomb for Pan, whom they believe dead, to memorialize and avoid his worship. Some mourn, others revile him, but the builders complete the monument. At evening, Pan himself emerges from the forest, sees the tomb, and laughs.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature vs. Civilization

The enlightened people build a tomb to contain and dismiss the wild, natural god Pan, but Pan's laughter at the end undermines their civilized triumph.

### The Power of Myth and Imagination

Despite the people's attempt to declare Pan dead and entomb him, the god's living presence and laughter affirm the enduring power of myth.

## Character check-ins

### Pan

Pan is the subject of the tomb; he is believed dead by the enlightened people, but he appears at evening and laughs upon seeing the monument.

## Key lines

> Seeing, they said, that old-time Pan is dead, let us now make a tomb for him and a monument, that the dreadful worship of long ago may be remembered and avoided by all.

The enlightened people decide to build a tomb for Pan to commemorate and warn against his ancient, fearsome worship.

_This opening sets up the conflict between enlightenment and myth._

> But at evening as he stole out of the forest, and slipped like a shadow softly along the hills, Pan saw the tomb and laughed.

At dusk, Pan emerges secretly from the woods, glides like a shadow over the hills, and laughs at the tomb built for him.

_The final line subverts the narrative of Pan's death, showing his enduring vitality._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fifty_one_tales_se/chapters/the-tomb-of-pan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fifty_one_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fifty_one_tales_se/chapters