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TNPSC GENERAL ENGLISH MATERIAL

A Tragic Story - William Makepeace Thackeray

Line-by-Line Explanation

Line by Line Explanation

1. "There lived a sage in days of yore,"

o The poem starts by introducing an old sage who lived long ago.
2. "And he a handsome pigtail wore;"
o This sage had a pigtail that was considered attractive.
3. "But wondered much and sorrowed more,"
o The sage was puzzled and deeply saddened by something.
4. "Because it hung behind him."

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o His distress came from the fact that his pigtail hung at the back of his head,
and he wished it were in front.
5. "He mused upon this curious case,"
o The sage thought deeply about this strange situation.
6. "And swore he'd change the pigtail's place,"
o He resolved to change the position of his pigtail so that it would hang in front.
7. "And have it hanging at his face,"
o He desired the pigtail to be visible from the front of his face.
8. "Not dangling there behind him."
o He was dissatisfied with the pigtail hanging behind him and wanted it to be in
front.
9. "Says he, 'The mystery I've found –' "
o The sage believes he has discovered the solution to his problem.
10. "Says he, 'The mystery I've found!' "
o He repeats with confidence that he has found the answer.
11. "I'll turn me round," he turned him round;"
o He decides to solve the problem by turning around.
12. "But still it hung behind him."
o Despite turning around, the pigtail remains at the back of his head.
13. "Then round and round, and out and in,"
o The sage spins around and moves in different directions, trying to move the
pigtail to the front.
14. "All day the puzzled sage did spin;"
o He spends the entire day spinning around in confusion.
15. "In vain – it mattered not a pin –"
o His efforts are in vain; nothing changes.
16. "The pigtail hung behind him."
o The pigtail stays behind him no matter what he does.
17. "And right and left and round about,"
o He tries moving in various directions to bring the pigtail to the front.
18. "And up and down and in and out"
o He even moves up and down, in and out, trying everything possible.
19. "He turned, but still the pigtail stout"
o Despite all his efforts, the pigtail remains firmly at the back.
20. "Hung steadily behind him."
o The pigtail continues to hang behind him without change.
21. "And though his efforts never slack,"
o Despite never giving up or slowing down in his attempts,
22. "And though he twist and twirl, and tack,"
o He keeps twisting, twirling, and changing directions,
23. "Alas! Still faithful to his back,"
o Sadly, the pigtail remains loyal to its place on his back.
24. "The pigtail hangs behind him."

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o The pigtail hangs behind him, just as it always has.

Summary

The poem "A Tragic Story" by William Makepeace Thackeray humorously narrates the tale
of a sage who was deeply troubled by his pigtail hanging behind him. Despite his many
efforts, including spinning, twisting, and turning in every possible direction, he could not
move the pigtail to the front. The poem highlights the futility of his attempts, as the pigtail
stubbornly remains behind him, illustrating the absurdity and humor in his struggle.

Theme

The central theme of the poem is the futility of trying to change something that is inherently
unchangeable. It also touches on the idea of human stubbornness and the absurdity of
being overly concerned with trivial matters. The sage’s relentless but ultimately pointless
efforts to move his pigtail symbolize the human tendency to obsess over minor
inconveniences that cannot be altered, no matter how much effort is put into it. The poem
conveys a light-hearted yet profound message about accepting things as they are.

About The Author (Extra Facts)

1. Birth and Early Life:

o William Makepeace Thackeray was born on July 18, 1811, in Calcutta (now
Kolkata), India, where his father worked for the British East India Company.
o He was sent to England at the age of five for his education after the death of
his father.
2. Education:
o Thackeray attended Charterhouse School, which he later satirized as
"Slaughterhouse" in his works.

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o He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, but left before completing his
degree.
3. Career and Writing Style:
o Before becoming a novelist, Thackeray pursued a career as an illustrator and
a journalist, contributing to several periodicals.
o His writing style is noted for its satire, often poking fun at the society of his time,
particularly the upper class and their pretensions.
4. Major Works:
o Apart from Vanity Fair, some of his other notable works include Pendennis
(1848–1850), The History of Henry Esmond (1852), and The Newcomes (1853–
1855).
o Vanity Fair (1847–1848) is considered his masterpiece, a satirical novel that
explores themes of ambition, social climbing, and moral corruption.
5. Personal Life:
o Thackeray married Isabella Shawe in 1836, but their marriage was troubled
due to her mental illness, which led to a separation.
o His personal experiences, particularly his financial difficulties and his wife's
illness, deeply influenced his writing.
6. Influence and Legacy:
o Thackeray was a contemporary of Charles Dickens, and the two were often
compared, though Thackeray's work is considered more satirical and less
sentimental than Dickens'.
o His works are known for their rich characterization and sharp social
commentary, contributing to the development of the novel as a form of social
critique.
7. Later Life and Death:
o Thackeray's later years were marked by declining health. He continued to write
and was also the first editor of the Cornhill Magazine, where some of his later
works were published.
o He died on December 24, 1863, at the age of 52, in London. His death was widely
mourned, and he was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
8. Influence on Literature:
o Thackeray's realistic portrayal of characters and society influenced later
writers, including Henry James and George Eliot, and he is considered a major
figure in the history of English literature.
o His portrayal of the "hero without heroic qualities" in Vanity Fair was
groundbreaking, providing a template for the development of the anti-hero in
modern literature.
9. Famous Quotes:
o Thackeray is known for his pithy observations, such as, "The world is a looking-
glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face."
10. Contributions to Art and Illustration:

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• Thackeray was also an accomplished illustrator and often provided illustrations for
his own works, which was unusual for a novelist of his time.

Poetic Devices with Meaning, Examples, and Explanation

1. Alliteration

• Definition: Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in two or
more nearby words.
• Examples:
o "But wondered much and sorrowed more" - The repetition of the "m" sound
in "much" and "more."
o "Because it hung behind him." - The repetition of the "h" sound in "hung" and
"him."
o "He mused upon this curious case" - The repetition of the "k" sound in
"curious" and "case."
o "And swore he'd change the pigtail's place" - The repetition of the "p" sound
in "pigtail's" and "place."
o "And have it hanging at his face" - The repetition of the "h" sound in
"hanging" and "his."
o "But still it hung behind him." - The repetition of the "h" sound in "hung" and
"him."
o "All day the puzzled sage did spin" - The repetition of the "s" sound in "sage"
and "spin."
o "He turned; but still the pigtail stout" - The repetition of the "s" sound in "still"
and "stout."
o "And though he twist and twirl, and tack" - The repetition of the "t" sound in
"twist," "twirl," and "tack."
• Explanation: Alliteration enhances the musical quality of the poem and
emphasizes certain phrases or ideas, making them more memorable.

2. Anaphora

• Definition: Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of

successive clauses, phrases, or sentences.
• Examples:
o "And be.... And swore... And have it.... And right.... And up... And though....
And though But wondered... But still it..."
• Explanation: Anaphora is used to create rhythm, build momentum, and emphasize
the persistence of the sage's actions and thoughts.

3. Personification

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• Definition: Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities are given
to animals, objects, or ideas.
• Example:
o "Still faithful to his back"
• Explanation: The pigtail is described as being "faithful" to the sage's back,
attributing a human quality (faithfulness) to an inanimate object, which adds to the
humor and irony of the poem.

4. Hyperbole

• Definition: Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis

or effect.
• Examples:
o "He mused upon this curious case" - Exaggerates the trivial situation of
changing the pigtail's position by calling it a "curious case."
o "All day the puzzled sage did spin;" - The phrase "all day" exaggerates the
sage's efforts, adding a comedic effect.
• Explanation: Hyperbole is used to emphasize the absurdity of the sage's obsession
with changing his pigtail's position.

5. Assonance

• Definition: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

• Examples:
o "But wondered much and sorrowed more," - The repetition of the "o" sound
in "wondered" and "sorrowed."
o "And right and left and round about," - The repetition of the "ou" sound in
"round about."
• Explanation: Assonance adds to the musical quality of the poem and enhances its
rhythm.

6. Imagery

• Definition: Imagery refers to the use of descriptive language that appeals to the
senses to create vivid mental pictures.
• Example:
o "Not dangling there behind him."
• Explanation: The image of the pigtail "dangling" behind the sage creates a visual
representation of his predicament, helping readers to picture the situation clearly.

7. Apostrophe

• Definition: An apostrophe is a figure of speech in which a speaker directly

addresses an absent or imaginary person, or a personified abstraction.

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• Example:
"Alas! Still faithful to his back,"
o
• Explanation: The exclamation "Alas!" is an apostrophe where the speaker expresses
a sudden emotion, highlighting the sage's frustration and the futility of his efforts.

8. Refrain

• Definition: A refrain is a repeated line or phrase, especially at the end of a stanza or

a poem.
• Examples:
o "Because it hung behind him."
o "But still it hung behind him."
"The pigtail hung behind him."
o
• Explanation: The repetition of these lines emphasizes the central theme of the
poem: the unchanging position of the pigtail and the sage’s futile attempts to alter
it.

9. Antithesis

• Definition: Antithesis is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put
together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.
• Examples:
o "Then round and round, and out and in,"
o "And right and left and round about,"
o "And up and down and in and out."
• Explanation: Antithesis is used to contrast the movements of the sage,
emphasizing the futility and absurdity of his efforts.

10. Irony

• Definition: Irony is a figure of speech in which the intended meaning is opposite to

the literal meaning, often resulting in a humorous or poignant contrast.
• Example:
o "There lived a sage in days of yore" - This line is ironic because the sage,
expected to be wise, is actually depicted as foolish and obsessed with a
trivial matter.
• Explanation: The irony in the poem lies in the contrast between the sage's expected
wisdom and his foolish actions, which adds to the humor and overall theme.

11. Repetition

• Definition: Repetition is the repeated use of a word or phrase for emphasis or effect.
• Example:
o "Then round and round, and out and in, round and round."

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• Explanation: The repetition of "round and round" and "out and in" emphasizes the
continuous and pointless nature of the sage's actions, highlighting the futility of his
efforts.

12. Rhyming Scheme and Words:

Stanza 1:

• Rhyme Scheme:
o A: yore
o A: wore
o A: more
o B: him

Stanza 2:

• Rhyme Scheme:
o A: case
o A: place
o A: face
o B: him

Stanza 3:

• Rhyme Scheme:
o A: found
o A: found
o A: round
o B: him

Stanza 4:

• Rhyme Scheme:
o A: in
o A: spin
o A: pin
o B: him

Stanza 5:

• Rhyme Scheme:
o A: about
o A: out
o A: stout
o B: him

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Stanza 6:

• Rhyme Scheme:
o A: slack
o A: tack
o A: back
o B: him

The poem adheres consistently to the AAAB rhyme scheme, with the last word of each
stanza ("him") being the non-rhyming word in the B position, adding a rhythmic and
humorous touch to the poem's structure.

A. Answer the following:

1. What made the sage upset?

o The sage was upset because his pigtail hung behind him, and he wanted it to
hang in front of his face.
2. Why did the sage spin all day?
o The sage spun all day in an attempt to move the pigtail from the back of his
head to the front, but his efforts were in vain.
3. What solution did he arrive at for the mystery that he found?
o The sage believed that if he kept turning around, he could somehow move the
pigtail to the front of his head.
4. Was he finally successful in changing his pigtail’s position? Support your answer
with a line from the poem.
o No, he was not successful. The line "The pigtail hangs behind him" shows that
despite all his efforts, the pigtail remained in its original position.
5. Did something dreadful happen? How would you describe the events in the poem—
comedy or tragedy?
o Nothing dreadful happened. The events in the poem are best described as a
comedy due to the absurdity and humor in the sage's futile attempts to
change the position of his pigtail.

B. Read the poem lines and answer the questions given below:

1. But wondered much and sorrowed more / Because it hung behind him.
o a) What was he wondering about?
▪ The sage was wondering why his pigtail hung behind him and how he
could move it to the front.
o b) What does the word ‘it’ refer to here?
▪ The word "it" refers to the sage's pigtail.
2. And though his efforts never slack / And though he twist, and twirl, and tack, / Alas!
Still faithful to his back / The pigtail hangs behind him.

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o a) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines and give the rhyme
scheme for the same.
▪ The rhyming words are "slack," "tack," and "back." The rhyme scheme is
AABB.
o b) Did he quit his trying? How can you say?
▪ No, he did not quit trying. This can be inferred from the line "And though
his efforts never slack," which indicates that he continued his attempts
without giving up.
3. ‘He mused upon this curious case’
o What is the figure of speech used in this line?
▪ The figure of speech used in this line is alliteration, as seen in the
repetition of the 'c' sound in "curious case."
4. Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended
meaning is different from the actual meaning. It may also be a situation that ends
up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is
a difference between appearance and reality.
o Can this poem be called an ironic poem? Justify your answer.
▪ Yes, this poem can be called an ironic poem. The irony lies in the sage's
belief that he could change the position of his pigtail by turning around,
which is an illogical and impossible solution. Despite his earnest efforts,
the pigtail remains behind him, highlighting the gap between his
expectations and reality. The poem's humor stems from this ironic
situation.

C. Fill in the table with the appropriate poem lines:

Pick the line or lines that Example

Suggest the sage lacked practical - "And swore he'd change the pigtail's place"
common sense
Make the poem humorous - "The mystery I've found! / I'll turn me round," he
turned him round;"
Show the clowning movements of - "Then round and round, and out and in, / All day
the sage the puzzled sage did spin;"
That are actually funny but have a - "In vain – it mattered not a pin – / The pigtail hung
serious tone behind him."

D. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the box:

Summary of the Poem:

Once upon a time, there lived a sage. He had a handsome pigtail. He was worried and
pondered over his pigtail's place. He wanted to change its place. He wanted it hanging at
his face. He didn’t like it hanging there behind him. So he turned right and left and round
about, up and down, and in and out but it still hung behind him. However he tried, his efforts

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were in vain. But he didn’t slack in his efforts. Nevertheless, his pigtail hung faithfully behind
him.

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