A Tangled Tale · Theme
Competition and Achievement
How A Tangled Tale develops Competition and Achievement.
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.
Where it surfaces
- 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.
- Answers to Knot X
The chapter ranks solvers into classes (e.g., 'first class,' 'honourable'), reflecting a competitive spirit in solving puzzles.
- §1: The Chelsea Pensioners
The chapter reviews and ranks answers from various competitors, highlighting a class list of successful solvers.