Y explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Human Folly and Self-Deception

  The definition of 'Youth' satirizes the idealization of youth as a golden age of impossible wonders.

• Marriage and Gender Relations

  The definition of 'Yoke' humorously links the Latin word for yoke to the matrimonial situation.

Characters to notice

• Unknown

  The narrator presents definitions and poetic excerpts.

• Homer

  Mentioned in the definition of 'Youth' as a figure for whom seven cities compete.

Key passages

• “Yankee In Europe, an American. In the Northern States of our Union, a New Englander. In the Southern States the word is unknown. (See damnyank .)”

  A Yankee is an American in Europe, a New Englander in the North, and an unknown term in the South, where one should see 'damnyank.'

  Satirical commentary on regional identity and prejudice.

• “Year A period of three hundred and sixty-five disappointments.”

  A year is a span of 365 letdowns.

  Cynical view of the passage of time.

• “Yesterday The infancy of youth, the youth of manhood, the entire past of age.”

  Yesterday represents the early stage of youth, the young part of adulthood, and the whole of old age's past.

  Poetic reflection on the stages of life.

• “Yoke An implement, madam, to whose Latin name, jugum , we owe one of the most illuminating words in our language—a word that defines the matrimonial situation with precision, point and poignancy. A thousand apologies for withholding it.”

  A yoke is a tool whose Latin name 'jugum' gives us a word that perfectly describes marriage, though the author apologizes for not revealing it.

  Witty allusion to the word 'conjugal' and its connection to marriage.

• “Youth The Period of Possibility, when Archimedes finds a fulcrum, Cassandra has a following and seven cities compete for the honor of endowing a living Homer.”

  Youth is a time of boundless potential, when impossible things happen and great honors are sought.

  Satirical idealization of youth as a golden age.