A Tangled Tale · Question
How does A Tangled Tale develop the theme of Competition and Achievement?
Answer
A Tangled Tale by Lewis Carroll develops Competition and Achievement across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Many knots involve contests, bets, or class lists of solvers, reflecting a theme of competitive intellectual achievement and the desire for recognition, often with playful rankings of correct and incorrect answers.
Clara and Mad Mathesis engage in two competitive train-meeting matches, with Clara striving to win and feeling disappointment at loss.
Clara and Mad Mathesis engage in a competitive match of marking pictures, with Clara determined to win despite the complex rules.
The chapter lists solvers by correctness, praising the 'classic Nine' who solved the whole problem, and includes a class list of successful solvers.
Evidence in the book
- Knot III: Mad Mathesis
Clara and Mad Mathesis engage in two competitive train-meeting matches, with Clara striving to win and feeling disappointment at loss.
- Knot V: Oughts and Crosses
Clara and Mad Mathesis engage in a competitive match of marking pictures, with Clara determined to win despite the complex rules.
- Answers to Knot I
The chapter lists solvers by correctness, praising the 'classic Nine' who solved the whole problem, and includes a class list of successful solvers.
- §2: The Lodgings
The review of solutions and classification into 'right,' 'partly right,' and '0' highlights a competitive, achievement-oriented framing.
- Answers to Knot III
The review of 45 answers and the class list of successful solvers highlight a competitive, achievement-oriented context.
- Answers to Knot IV
The author ranks solvers into classes based on the neatness and correctness of their answers, fostering a competitive spirit.
- Answers to Knot VI
The class list and commentary on solvers' errors highlight a competitive atmosphere and the pursuit of correct answers.
- §2: The Grurmstipths
The class list and critique of answers highlight a competitive, evaluative approach to problem-solving.
