The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Chapter
Chapter XIII explained
The narrator reminds the reader of the midwife's importance and describes her reputation in the village and surrounding area.
What happens
The narrator reminds the reader of the midwife's importance and describes her reputation in the village and surrounding area. He also promises a future map and commentary to clarify obscure passages.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage is the dramatic climax because it depicts the precise moment the corporal’s long-standing resista…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Digression and Narrative Form
The narrator digresses to remind the reader of the midwife and promises future maps and commentaries, highlighting the work's self-referential and digressive structure.
Characters to notice
- Tristram Shandy
The narrator who addresses the reader directly and discusses the midwife.
Key passages
“It is so long since the reader of this rhapsodical work has been parted from the midwife, that it is high time to mention her again to him, merely to put him in mind that there is such a body still in the world”
It has been a while since the midwife was last mentioned, so the narrator brings her up again to remind the reader she still exists.
The narrator re-introduces the midwife after a long absence.
“I think I told you that this good woman was a person of no small note and consequence throughout our whole village and township”
The narrator recalls that the midwife was highly regarded in the village and surrounding area.
Describes the midwife's local reputation.
