# Competition and Achievement in A Tangled Tale

> Theme guide for A Tangled Tale by Lewis Carroll.

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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/2-the-grurmstipths): The class list and critique of answers highlight a competitive, evaluative approach to problem-solving.
- [Answers to Knot X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/1-the-chelsea-pensioners): The chapter reviews and ranks answers from various competitors, highlighting a class list of successful solvers.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/themes/competition_and_achievement
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/themes