Short Fiction · Chapter
Reginald's Rubaiyat explained
Reginald recounts his failed attempts at writing poetry for a duchess's album, including a Hymn to the New Year, a quatrain about an unwholesome egg, and a parody of a French classic, all of which are rejected for various reasons.
What happens
Reginald recounts his failed attempts at writing poetry for a duchess's album, including a Hymn to the New Year, a quatrain about an unwholesome egg, and a parody of a French classic, all of which are rejected for various reasons. He eventually tricks the duchess by inserting a Tibetan fragment under Agatha's autograph, and then reveals he is actually free to dine with the listener.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Moral Facade
The duchess's contradictory objections to political allusions and bribery, while engaging in electioneering.
The Absurdity of Social Rituals
The duchess's insistence on a 'Persian and decadent' yet morally safe poem for her album.
Rebellion and Individuality
Reginald's defiance in writing a forbidden Tibetan fragment and his final declaration of dining elsewhere.
Characters to notice
- Reginald
Narrator and protagonist, attempts to write poetry for the duchess's album.
- Clovis Sangrail
Implied listener of Reginald's story, addressed as 'you' in the final paragraph.
Key passages
“The chief qualification, I understand, is that you must be born.”
The only requirement for being a poet is being alive.
Reginald's sarcastic take on poetic talent.
“It suggested extremely unusual things to absolutely unlikely people, which I believe is the art of first-class catering in any department.”
Good poetry, like good catering, should offer unexpected experiences to those who least expect them.
Reginald's philosophy of art as provocation.
“I thought it much cleverer to give the grapes to the former and the political literature to the sick woman, and the duchess was quite absurdly annoyed about it afterwards.”
I swapped the gifts, giving grapes to the voter and pamphlets to the sick woman, which the duchess found infuriating.
Reginald's mischievous electioneering tactic.
“I said I didn't believe Agatha had a quick, and we got quite heated in arguing the matter.”
I claimed Agatha lacked sensitivity, leading to a heated argument.
Reginald's witty retort about Agatha's emotional depth.
“That Agatha would get on to a yak in company with a lover even in the comparative seclusion of Tibet is unthinkable.”
Agatha would never ride a yak with a lover, even in remote Tibet.
Reginald's mockery of Agatha's prudishness.