The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel’s plot, characters and main themes, as well as a useful examination of Sterne’s use of satire and his highly unusual narrator. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 48-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Laurence Sterne
• Presentation of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
• Summary of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
• Character study
  • Tristram Shandy
  • Toby Shandy
  • Walter Shandy
• Analysis of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
  • Genre
  • Satirical elements and bawdy humor in Tristram Shandy
  • Style of narration

About The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is a fictional biography of the title character, although, somewhat unusually, we learn relatively little about him and his experiences. Instead, he recounts of series of comical episodes and embarks on wide-ranging discussions of a host of unlikely subjects. The novel’s non-linear structure and original narrative voice mean that it can be seen as a forerunner of the Modernist movement some 200 years later, and it is widely considered to be one of the greatest English-language novels ever written.

About Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne was an Irish clergyman and novelist. He is best known for his classic novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman; he also wrote the novel A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, his memoirs and numerous sermons (which were published under the pseudonym Mr. Yorick). Sterne struggled with tuberculosis for many years, and died from the disease in 1768. He is credited with having inspired a number of later writers and thinkers, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Nietzsche and James Joyce.