The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle · Chapter
My Schoolmaster, Polynesia explained
Tommy Stubbins becomes a regular visitor at Doctor Dolittle's house, helping with the animals and learning animal languages from Polynesia.
What happens
Tommy Stubbins becomes a regular visitor at Doctor Dolittle's house, helping with the animals and learning animal languages from Polynesia. He expresses his desire to become a naturalist and live with the Doctor as his assistant. Polynesia agrees to speak with the Doctor about it, and they observe the Doctor reading a letter to a joyful retriever dog.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Curiosity
Tommy's eagerness to learn animal languages and his desire to read books from the Doctor's library highlight the theme of education and curiosity. Polynesia's patient teaching and Tommy's practice with mice, cats, and pigeons underscore this.
Communication with Animals
The chapter centers on Polynesia teaching Tommy bird and animal languages, and the Doctor translating a letter for a dog. This theme is central to the narrative.
Characters to notice
- Tommy Stubbins
Tommy spends all his time at the Doctor's house, learning animal languages from Polynesia and helping with chores. He decides he wants to become a naturalist and live with the Doctor as his assistant.
- Polynesia
Polynesia teaches Tommy bird language and animal signs, showing patience despite occasional frustration. She also helps him with reading and agrees to speak to the Doctor about Tommy becoming a proper assistant.
- Doctor Dolittle
The Doctor is seen reading a letter aloud to a retriever dog, translating it into dog language. He is busy with his work but is a central figure in Tommy's new life.
- Jip
Jip is mentioned indirectly as part of the animal household, but the retriever dog in the study is a different dog belonging to Minnie Dooley.
- Minnie Dooley
Minnie Dooley is the owner of the retriever dog; she and her brother have gone to the seaside and write letters to their dog, which the Doctor reads for him.
Key passages
“I opened the door quietly and peeped in. The first thing I saw was an enormous black retriever dog sitting in the middle of the hearthrug with his ears cocked up, listening to the Doctor who was reading aloud to him from a letter.”
Tommy quietly opens the study door and sees a large black retriever on the rug, attentively listening as the Doctor reads a letter aloud to him.
This scene illustrates the Doctor's unique ability to communicate with animals, translating human language for them.
“Polynesia, I said, I want to ask you something very important. What is it, my boy? said she, smoothing down the feathers of her right wing.”
Tommy tells Polynesia he has an important question, and she responds while preening her wing.
This moment shows Tommy's growing seriousness about his future and his reliance on Polynesia's advice.
“I have made up my mind. I would sooner be a naturalist than anything else in the world.”
Tommy declares his firm decision to become a naturalist above all other professions.
This quote marks a key turning point in Tommy's character development, solidifying his life goal.