ORGANIZATION
Many readers find Tristram Shandy disorganized,
even chaotic. E.M. Forster expressed their perspective when he said,
"Obviously a god is hidden in Tristram Shandy, and his name is
Muddle." Certainly, the digressions, the apologies, the delays, the
jokes, and even the narrator's statements that he doesn't know what he
will write next because he doesn't know what idea may run away with
him–all these things support their view, as does the narrator's
statement that he never revises. Furthermore, Tristram announces his
intention "to go on leisurely, writing and publishing two volumes of my
life every year... as long as I live" (I, xiv, 33). However, to what
extent are Sterne and Tristram to be equated? Is it relevant that
statements like this appear in Sterne's correspondence: "I shall write
as long as I live, ‘tis, in fact, my hobby horse"? If this was indeed
Sterne's intention, how much planning could go into a novel which might
end tomorrow or in twenty years?
There are, however, counter arguments to this view. Does
a novel have to be tightly organized? Isn't Sterne's rambling part of
his purpose in writing Tristram Shandy and a delight in itself?
For Tristram–and presumably Sterne, "Digressions, incontestably, are
the sunshine;–they are the life, the soul of reading;–take them out of
this book for instance,–you might as well take the book along with
them" (I, xxii, 58). Is his digressiveness in fact an organizational
technique? Tristram (and Sterne?) claimed, "my work is digressive, and
it is progressive too,–and at the same time" (I, xxii, 58).
Not all readers concede that the novel lacks
organization. They have found unity in Sterne's humor, in his
characters, in the themes, in his philosophy, in his rhetoric, and in
the narrator. Some have seen the novel as a monologue, in which case
the rambling is an expression of the narrator's personality. Others see
it as a dialog between the narrator and the reader, with the
digressions of conversation. James Aiken argues, "The book was planned
and written, for the most part, slowly and with care." To support his
view, he cites the chronological consistency of the time scheme, which
is complete and consistent, with one or two trivial lapses. The major
actions–Tristram's conception, birth, and baptism and Uncle Toby's
hobby horse and courtship–are arranged chronologically. Moreover the
narrator refers to events, conversations, and beliefs which are
developed and explained in later books; this technique required at
least some planning on Sterne's part. Sterne wrote his publisher, "The
Plan, as you will perceive, is a most extensive one–taking in, not
only, the Weak part of the Sciences, in wch the true point
of Ridicule lies–but every Thing else, which I find Laugh-at-able in my
way–." Is this a sufficient organizational principle?
STERNE SYLLABUS
Day 11 (W, Oct. 9) |
Sterne, Tristram Shandy
Books I and II
A Few General Remarks |
Day 12 (W, Oct. 16) |
Sterne, Tristram Shandy;
 Book III,
Book IV, Chapters 10-14, 31
The Organization of Tristram
Shandy
Major Themes in Tristram
Shandy
|
Day 13 (M, Oct. 21) |
Sterne, Tristram Shandy
BookV, Chapters 2- 14, 31
Book IX, Chapters 18-33
Time in Tristram Shandy |
Revised: October 13, 2004
|