The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Chapter
Chapter XI explained
This chapter introduces the parson Yorick, tracing his family name's ancient spelling and Danish origins, and describes his mercurial, whimsical nature as a stark contrast to the expected Danish phlegm.
What happens
This chapter introduces the parson Yorick, tracing his family name's ancient spelling and Danish origins, and describes his mercurial, whimsical nature as a stark contrast to the expected Danish phlegm. It details his opposition to affected gravity, his indiscreet honesty, and his tendency to speak plainly without regard for consequence.
Themes in this chapter
Digression and Narrative Form
The narrator digresses on the history of the Yorick surname, its spelling, and the family's Danish origins, weaving in commentary on genealogy and narrative reliability.
Obsession and Hobbyhorses
Yorick's invincible dislike of gravity and his habit of speaking plainly without regard for consequence can be seen as a hobbyhorse that drives his actions and leads to his eventual catastrophe.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Yorick
Introduced as the parson with a mercurial and heteroclite nature, opposed to affected gravity, and prone to indiscreet plain speaking.
Key passages
“Yorick had an invincible dislike and opposition in his nature to gravity;—not to gravity as such;—for where gravity was wanted, he would be the most grave or serious of mortal men for days and weeks together;—but he was an enemy to the affectation of it, and declared open war against it, only as it appeared a cloak for ignorance, or for folly”
Yorick was not opposed to genuine seriousness, but he hated pretentious gravity used to hide ignorance or foolishness.
Highlights Yorick's principled opposition to affectation.
“he was, on the contrary, as mercurial and sublimated a composition,—as heteroclite a creature in all his declensions;—with as much life and whim, and gaité de cœur about him, as the kindliest climate could have engendered and put together.”
He was lively, whimsical, and full of high spirits, unlike the cold phlegm expected from his Danish ancestry.
Describes Yorick's temperament as opposite to his supposed Danish heritage.