A “tattoo” in Thomas Hardy’s “The Trumpet-Major” and the annual Basel Tattoo

In Thomas Hardy's "The Trumpet-Major", the Royal Army's Dragoons show up in the village of Overcombe, and Anne Garland hears them break the silence of the night: "Louder sounds [...] came from the camp of dragoons, were taken up further to the right by the camp of the Hanoverians, and further on still by the body of infantry. It was tattoo." The "tattoo" is a military signal played on drums or bugles, but I only learned the term in 2006 with the first Basel Tattoo, a show of military bands that has taken place every summer since then (except for 2020 and 2021, when it was cancelled due to the pandemic). (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 14 November 2024)

The trolley problem, Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, the television series “The Good Place”, and allegory and literature as thought experiments

This morning, on my way to teaching a session on Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" (1948), I passed a classroom where I spotted a slide from a presentation on "the trolley problem", philosopher Philippa Foot's 1967 thought experiment. In class, then, we discussed "The Lottery" itself as a literary thought experiment akin to the trolley problem and the scientific thought experiments of Albert Einstein or Erwin Schrödinger. But I also referred to the vivid, macabre presentation of the trolley problem in episode 6 of the second season of the television series "The Good Place". Ultimately, we linked "The Lottery" as a thought experiment to allegory in particular and to literature in general. (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 13 November 2024)

Screenshot from Season 2, Episode 6 of The Good Place

The playwright “Colman” and the actor “Bannister” in Thomas Hardy’s “The Trumpet-Major” (1880)

In Thomas Hardy's "The Trumpet-Major" (1880), which is set during the Napoleonic Wars, the main characters go to see a play in Budmouth: "To-night it was one of Colman’s, who at this time enjoyed great popularity, and Mr. Bannister supported the leading character." Charles Bannister (1738-1804) was an English actor and singer who was widely celebrated for his performance as Caliban in William Shakespeare's "The Tempest". "Colman" is probably George Colman the Younger (1762-1836), whose play "The Iron Chest" premiered in 1799 with Bannister in the cast. But it could also be his father George Colman the Elder (1732-1794), if any of his plays were still being produced after his death. (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 12 November 2024)

Update, 13 November 2024: A friend on Facebook quoted the manuscript of Hardy’s novel, which names Colman’s play as “The Heir at Law”, and added that “Bannister” is more likely to be Charles’s son John Bannister (1760-1836).

Don Q and a rifle

Don Q held up a rifle and said it was a microphone. He held up a dagger and said it was a pen. He held up a bomb and said it was a clock. He held up a skeleton and said it was a mannequin. He held up a tombstone and said it was a bench. He held up body armor and said it was a suit. He held up a tank and said it was a bicycle. He held up barbed wire and said it was kite string. He held up a drone and said it was a balloon. He held up his mask and said it was his face. (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 11 November 2024)

Don Q and the clouds

Don Q saw clouds on the southern horizon: “See the dust rising from all the approaching giants, who grow every day.” He saw clouds on the northern horizon: “See the dust rising from all the giants among us, who grow every day.” He shouted louder until the people nearby, hearing nothing else, asked Don Q what to do about the giants. “We must send all the giants beyond the horizon.” The clouds from the southern storm kept growing every day, blowing their wind and rain towards the smoke from the northern fires, which kept growing every day. “The giants, the giants,” Don Q shouted. “The giants, the giants,” the people cried. (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 7 November 2024)

“I cannot tell the sum”: A cento for the day after the election, November 2024

I cannot tell the sum

I cannot see a spoke

I cannot see - your lifetime -

I cannot vouch the merry Dust

I cannot buy it - 'tis not sold -

I cannot be ashamed

I cannot be proud

I cannot meet the Spring - 

I cannot want it more -

I cannot want it less -

I cant tell you - but you feel it -

I cannot see my soul

I cannot make the Force

cannot fold a Flood

cannot feel the seam

cannot solder an Abyss

cannot prick with Saw

cannot make Remembrance grow

cannot comprehend it's price -

All this and more I cannot tell - (Andrew Shields, #111Words, a cento, 6 November 2024)

I can’t pretend like I understand: A cento for Election Day 2024

I can't pretend like I understand. I can't even be sure. I can't even say it with a straight face. I can't unlock it. I can't hear you any more. I can't get no relief. I can't hear one single word. I cannot explain that in lines. I cannot play this game. I can't make it all match up. I can't say anything to your face. I can't remember what it's like. I cannot be excused. I can't help myself. I can't even touch the books. I can't sing a song that I don't understand. I can't get out of bed. I cannot move; my fingers are all in a knot. (Andrew Shields, #111Words, a cento, 5 November 2024)