# The Pig-Tale explained — Sylvie and Bruno

> Chapter companion for Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll.

## What happens

The Other Professor recites a whimsical poem about a pig who cannot jump, leading to a fatal attempt. After the recitation, a hurricane disrupts the banquet, causing the Emperor and Empress to regain their senses and confess their deceit. A mysterious knocking at the door ends the chapter.

## Themes in this chapter

### Morality and Ethics

The Emperor and Empress confess their hypocrisy and deceit, highlighting a moral awakening.

### Reality vs. Fantasy

The surreal Pig-Tale poem and the magical hurricane blur the line between reality and fantasy.

## Character check-ins

### Professor

Introduces the Pig-Tale recitation and leads the cheering.

### The Other Professor

Recites the Pig-Tale poem and later falls into the fireplace.

### Bruno

Comments on the story, asks for cake, and suggests a story about tigers and bumblebees.

### Sylvie

Corrects Bruno's pronunciation and advises him on manners.

### The Empress

Offers soap to the Other Professor and later regains her senses during the hurricane.

### The Emperor

Begins a speech but is interrupted by the hurricane; afterwards confesses his deceit.

### The Lord Chancellor

Organizes the toast to the Emperor and later runs to answer the door.

## Key lines

> Little Birds are dining Warily and well, Hid in mossy cell: Hid, I say, by waiters Gorgeous in their gaiters— I've a Tale to tell.

The poem begins with a whimsical scene of birds eating cautiously, hidden in a mossy cell, while waiters in fancy gaiters conceal them, setting up the story to come.

_Opening lines of the Pig-Tale poem._

> There was a Pig that sat alone Beside a ruined Pump: By day and night he made his moan— It would have stirred a heart of stone To see him wring his hoofs and groan, Because he could not jump.

A pig sits alone by a broken pump, moaning day and night because he cannot jump, a sight that would move even a heart of stone.

_Introduction of the pig's plight in the poem._

> That Pig lay still as any stone, And could not stir a stump: Nor ever, if the truth were known, Was he again observed to moan, Nor ever wring his hoofs and groan, Because he could not jump.

After his fatal jump, the pig lies motionless, never again moaning or groaning about his inability to jump.

_Conclusion of the pig's story in the poem._

> And we have behaved—my wife and I—like two arrant Knaves. We deserve no better name. When my brother went away, you lost the best Warden you ever had. And I've been doing my best, wretched hypocrite that I am, to cheat you into making me an Emperor.

The Emperor confesses that he and the Empress have acted like deceitful knaves, admitting that his brother was a better Warden and that he has been a hypocrite trying to trick everyone into making him Emperor.

_The Emperor's confession after the hurricane._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxiii-the-pig-tale
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters