Sylvie and Bruno · Chapter
X: The Other Professor explained
Sylvie and Bruno seek the Professor's help against the unkind Gardener.
What happens
Sylvie and Bruno seek the Professor's help against the unkind Gardener. The Professor humorously confuses animals and objects, then leads them to visit the Other Professor, who is found sleeping over a book. They discuss a planned lecture, banquet, and fancy-dress ball, and the Other Professor attempts to sing a 'Pig-Tale' but is criticized by Bruno. The chapter ends with a playful exchange between Sylvie and Bruno about rules and a kiss.
Themes in this chapter
Innocence and Childhood Wisdom
Bruno's candid observations and Sylvie's gentle guidance highlight the children's innocent perspective, contrasting with the adults' absurdities.
Education and Learning
The Professors' discussion of lectures, books, and the 'Pig-Tale' satirizes academic pursuits and the nature of learning.
Characters to notice
- Sylvie
Leads the Professor to address the Gardener's unkindness; shows careful observation and gentle authority over Bruno.
- Bruno
Expresses fear of the Other Professor, criticizes the singing as 'very extremely ugly', and engages in a playful argument with Sylvie about rules.
- Professor
Confuses animals and objects, humorously deals with a tailor's bill, and orchestrates the visit to the Other Professor while planning a lecture and banquet.
- The Other Professor
Found sleeping over a book, sings a 'Pig-Tale' poorly, and discusses the order of events for the lecture and banquet.
- Narrator
Observes the events and reflects on the mysterious palace and the interaction between Sylvie and Bruno.
Key passages
“We were looking for you! ... We do want you so much, you can't think!”
Sylvie expresses urgent need for the Professor's help.
Opening plea sets the chapter's conflict.
“It's most important not to get two such animals confused together. And one's very liable to do it in their case—both having mouths, you know—”
The Professor humorously warns against confusing a lion and a gardener due to superficial similarities.
Illustrates the Professor's characteristic confusion and wordplay.
“I put some lettuces into the clock, and tried to wind up the rabbit!”
The Professor admits to mixing up a rabbit hutch and a clock, with absurd results.
Example of the Professor's absent-mindedness.
“He'll go on doubling it, till he dies. You see it's always worth while waiting another year, to get twice as much money!”
The Professor explains his strategy of indefinitely deferring payment to the tailor.
Showcases the Professor's cunning and the theme of delayed gratification.
“It's very extremely ugly!”
Bruno bluntly criticizes the Other Professor's singing.
Bruno's unfiltered honesty contrasts with Sylvie's politeness.
“When a man's tipsy ... he sees one thing as two. But, when he's extremely sober ... he sees two things as one. It's equally inconvenient, whichever happens.”
The Professor explains the disadvantages of extreme sobriety versus drunkenness.
Philosophical humor about moderation.
