# The Shaving of Shagpat — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Shaving of Shagpat by George Meredith.

- [The Thwackings](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-thwackings.md): Shibli Bagarag, nephew of Baba Mustapha, arrives at the city of Shagpat in a state of hunger and despair. He is approached by an old woman who prophesies that he is destined to shave Shagpat, the clothier, and thus achie
- [And This Is the Story of Bhanavar the Beautiful](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/and-this-is-the-story-of-bhanavar-the-beautiful.md): This chapter tells the tale of Bhanavar the Beautiful, a damsel betrothed to a comely youth. One night by a lake, they witness a mysterious light that is revealed to be a Jewel in the head of the Serpent of the Lake. Con
- [The Betrothal](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-betrothal.md): Shibli Bagarag is formally betrothed to Noorna bin Noorka under the supervision of her father, Vizier Feshnavat. Noorna reveals that Shagpat holds the entire city under enchantment through a single hair in his head, and 
- [And This Is the Punishment of Shahpesh, the Persian, on Khipil, the Builder](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/and-this-is-the-punishment-of-shahpesh-the-persian-on-khipil-the-builder.md): King Shahpesh punishes his negligent builder Khipil by forcing him to sit on an imaginary throne, fall into a gap, present nettles as flowers, and endure other ironic torments, teaching a lesson against idleness and garr
- [The Genie Karaz](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-genie-karaz.md): Shibli Bagarag impatiently declares he will shave Shagpat that very night, but Noorna and Feshnavat explain the immense difficulty of the task, detailing three chief obstacles: the illusions of Rabesqurat, the Chief of I
- [The Well of Paravid](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-well-of-paravid.md): Shibli Bagarag and Noorna bin Noorka journey across a desert and up a perilous mountain on the enchanted ass (the genie Karaz). Noorna instructs Shibli to bathe in the Well of Paravid and fill a phial with its waters. He
- [The Horse Garraveen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-horse-garraveen.md): Shibli Bagarag, guided by Noorna bin Noorka, successfully captures the magical horse Garraveen in the meadows of Melistan. However, his pride leads him to disobey Noorna's warning not to ride the horse a second time. The
- [The Talking Hawk](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-talking-hawk.md): Shibli Bagarag, guided by a talking hawk and the waters of Paravid, travels to the City of Oolb. He is tricked by the genie Karaz disguised as a ship captain, but the hawk saves him from drowning and brings him to shore.
- [Goorelka of Oolb](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/goorelka-of-oolb.md): Shibli Bagarag, guided by the talking hawk, uses his barber's skills and magical tackle to shave the King of Oolb and his court, earning the King's favor. He trades the hawk for a China jar and an invisible dress, then u
- [The Lily of the Enchanted Sea](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-lily-of-the-enchanted-sea.md): Shibli Bagarag and Princess Goorelka are shipwrecked on an enchanted shore. Shibli follows Goorelka to a peak where she tries to trick him, but he reveals himself. She tests his fidelity and offers him poisoned dew from 
- [And This Is the Story of Noorna Bin Noorka, the Genie Karaz, and the Princess of Oolb](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/and-this-is-the-story-of-noorna-bin-noorka-the-genie-karaz-and-the-princess-of-oolb.md): Noorna bin Noorka recounts her origin story: orphaned as an infant in the wilderness, adopted by Ravaloke, and later discovering her true identity after an encounter with Princess Goorelka. She describes her acquisition 
- [The Wiles of Rabesqurat](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-wiles-of-rabesqurat.md): Shibli Bagarag and Noorna bin Noorka journey toward Aklis, but are intercepted by Queen Rabesqurat, who uses enchantments and illusions to beguile Shibli, attempting to make him forget his betrothal to Noorna and claim h
- [The Palace of Aklis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-palace-of-aklis.md): Shibli Bagarag enters the Palace of Aklis and is tempted by three halls of illusion: one with fountains of jewels, one with a feast, and one with beautiful damsels. He resists the first two temptations by focusing on his
- [The Sons of Aklis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-sons-of-aklis.md): Shibli Bagarag awakens in Aklis after a night of feasting and is treated as a king by the seven sons of Aklis. He is crowned and presides over a court of asses and monkeys, who are revealed to be former seekers of the Sw
- [The Sword of Aklis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-sword-of-aklis.md): Shibli Bagarag and the Antelope (Princess Gulrevaz) traverse the halls of Aklis, overcome a lion with a hair of Garraveen, and enter the Cave of Chrysolites. There, the seven sons of Aklis test Shibli by having him thrus
- [Koorookh](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/koorookh.md): Shibli Bagarag, aided by Princess Gulrevaz and the seven sons of Aklis, uses the Sword and the magical bird Koorookh to rescue Noorna from the genie Karaz and a kite sent against her. He then peers through the glass eye 
- [The Veiled Figure](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-veiled-figure.md): Shibli Bagarag and Abarak depart from Aklis after the Sword is flashed, revealing the Veiled Figure as Rabesqurat. Shibli is horrified by the sight and loses his wits. Abarak discovers two remaining hairs of Garraveen on
- [The Bosom of Noorna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-bosom-of-noorna.md): Noorna waits on the mountain in outer Aklis with Koorookh, teaching the bird to speak. She discovers through divination that Shibli Bagarag has peered through the veil of the ferrying figure in Aklis, rendering his name 
- [The Revival](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-revival.md): Shibli Bagarag is revived by Noorna bin Noorka through a kiss and a plunge into a lake, awakening to the reality of his mission. He summons the genii Karavejis and Veejravoosh via the Sword to search for the genie Karaz,
- [The Plot](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-plot.md): Shibli Bagarag devises a complex plot involving Feshnavat and Baba Mustapha to undermine Shagpat, while Noorna bin Noorka is tasked with a crucial role. The chapter emphasizes the need for guile and careful planning over
- [The Dish of Pomegranate Grain](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-dish-of-pomegranate-grain.md): Kadza, spouse of Shagpat, has a dream of danger to Shagpat and summons the genie Karaz, who scolds her for disturbing him. Meanwhile, Noorna bin Noorka and her father Feshnavat discuss the impending shaving of Shagpat, w
- [The Burning of the Identical](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-burning-of-the-identical.md): In the great hall, the King and people of Shagpat engage in a ritual of abasement before Shagpat. Baba Mustapha is brought forth to attempt shaving Shagpat again, but the arrival of three kings from Oolb, Gaf, and Shiraz
- [The Flashes of the Blade](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-flashes-of-the-blade.md): On the fourth morning, the Identical flame subsides and returns to Shagpat's hair. The people and kings marvel at the spectacle. Shibli Bagarag, with Noorna's aid, begins shaving Shagpat, causing earthquakes and celestia
- [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/conclusion.md): The conclusion describes the aftermath of Shibli Bagarag's successful shaving of Shagpat, including the feasting and celebration, the restoration of towns, the reunion with Noorna, the marriage contract, and the distribu

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters