dissertation upon a roast pig summary pdf

Charles Lamb: Essays

By charles lamb.

• Charles Lamb: Essays Summary

In his Essays of Elia and its sequel, Last Essays of Elia , Charles Lamb explores a broad range of topics and works with various non-fiction tropes that often edge into the terrain of fiction. We see him writing obituaries, dream journals, diatribes, and tributes. What unifies Lamb's essays is his lyrical, conversational writing style. Like many fellow Romantics, he often employs purple prose and shows off his sharp wit, but the essays themselves remain accessible and often fun. Elia is the persona Lamb uses when writing essays, so instead of referring to Lamb or "the narrator," these synopses will refer simply to "Elia."

"Old China"

Elia details his pet obsession, old china. The essay starts with—typical for Elia—a flight of fancy, as he gets lost in a scene of a tea ceremony depicted on a cup. The essay veers into a conversation with Cousin Bridget about whether the days when they were poorer were more fulfilling than those of their comparative wealth.

"Dream-Children; A Reverie"

Much of this essay reads as Elia's elegy to his grandmother, Field , the magnanimous, fearless woman who took care of a mansion where Elia spent much of his childhood. He recounts Field as well as his late brother John to his children, but when Elia begins to tell the children about their mother Alice , they fade away, and Elia wakes up from a dream. He never had any children by Alice, since Alice chose to marry another man.

"A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig"

A comical essay which includes many nuggets of fiction, "A Dissertation" is Elia's attempt to imagine the provenance of people eating roast pork, a dish that he loves. He talks about an imaginary ancient boy who burns down his family's shack but eats the pig that died in the fire and loves it. The essay veers into a discussion of Elia's love of sharing food with other people, before ending with a moral conundrum of how animals that are to be eaten should be slaughtered.

"The South-Sea House"

Elia describes the bank where he used to work, the South Sea House, which was the site of a famous financial speculation hoax. He recounts his various co-workers as well as the owners of the bank, but eventually reveals that his account may be as much of a hoax as the scam that the bank infamously ran.

"Ellistoniana"

Elia writes an obituary for his friend Elliston , a beloved stage actor whose on-stage and off-stage presences were indistinguishable from one another. Elliston is described as a passionate man whose only regrets are that he was pigeonholed late in his career for doing what he did best.

"Rejoicings Upon a New Year's Coming of Age"

This is a fanciful essay which is effectively a work of fiction imagining a New Year's Day party where all of the days of the year are personified and mingle with one another. April Fool's is the master of ceremonies and creates delightful chaos throughout the celebration.

"Detached Thoughts on Books and Reading"

In this essay, Elia talks about his compulsive reading habit, praising his favorites, Shakespeare and Milton, while confessing that he'll read just about anything with text that is put in front of him. He rails against newspapers and especially the practice of reading them out loud in public settings, as this violates that individualistic style of reading that Elia favors.

"Grace Before Meat"

Elia is typically skeptical of hypocrisy in organized religion, but this is really the essay where he outlines the substance of his critique by way of articulating his own religious and moral convictions. He believe that grace is usually uttered insincerely, and that only the poor really have dignity in saying it, as they are truly grateful for the opportunity to have food on their table. This extends to a broader condemnation of the rich.

"The Old and New Schoolmaster"

Elia talks about the limits of his education based on the old style of pedagogy, which was wholly rooted in learning English and literature pertinent to it. The new schoolmasters know a little bit about everything so that their pupils' curiosity can always be satisfied. The essay ends with a letter from a schoolmaster about how alienated he feels from his students after the passing of his wife.

"The Praise of Chimney-Sweepers"

In an essay that is somewhat uncomfortable to read because of its treatment of race, Elia praises young boys who are chimney sweepers. He praises the tea they drink and their jovial attitude, before describing dinners that his late friend used to throw for the boys every year where they were treated like nobility. As with many of Elia's essays, this one elevates the nobility of the lower classes.

Charles Lamb: Essays Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Charles Lamb: Essays is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Which quality Charles Lamb a romantic writer?

As a Romantic, Lamb brought a key innovation to the somewhat new form, inserting his own personally to give the essays a conversational tone. His essays showcase his passions and anxieties, imbuing the non-fiction form with a personal and literary...

What is the major theme of "Poor Relation" by Charles Lamb?

The major theme is that of the "poor relation"... their irrelevance and unpleasant place in one's life.

Explain the theme of the essay ''A Dissertation upon Roast Pig''.

The essay describes the discovery of the exquisite flavour of roast pig in China in a time when all food was eaten raw. This is really a light hearted theme speaking to how odd it is that humans eat cooked animals at all.

Study Guide for Charles Lamb: Essays

Charles Lamb: Essays study guide contains a biography of Charles Lamb, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Charles Lamb: Essays
• Character List

Essays for Charles Lamb: Essays

Charles Lamb: Essays essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Charles Lamb: Essays by Charles Lamb.

• Charles Lamb and Spaces Separate from Rationality

Wikipedia Entries for Charles Lamb: Essays

• Introduction
• Youth and schooling
• Family tragedy
• Religious views

• Project Gutenberg
• 73,331 free eBooks
• 16 by Charles Lamb

A Dissertation upon Roast Pig by Charles Lamb

Charles Lamb Dissertation Upon a Roast Pig Summary

The essay tells the story of how the art of roasting meat was accidentally discovered. In ancient times, mankind ate their meat raw, but a Chinese manuscript suggests that a golden age known as the Cooks’ holiday marked the transition to cooking meat. The story revolves around a swineherd named Ho-ti and his son Bo-bo.

One day, Bo-bo accidentally sets his cottage on fire, along with a litter of new-farrowed pigs. As the fire burns, Bo-bo discovers the delicious taste of the burnt pig’s skin and flesh. He indulges in eating it, despite his father’s anger. Eventually, both father and son enjoy the burnt pig together. They are warned not to reveal their secret, as their neighbors would consider it abominable.

However, fires continue to break out in Ho-ti’s cottage, and the mystery is discovered. Father and son are summoned to trial, where the burnt pig is presented as evidence. Surprisingly, the jury members, after burning their fingers on the pig, declare the culprits not guilty without any consultation.

The judge buys up all the pigs in the area after a court decision, causing a shortage and increasing prices. Fires break out in the town, leading to the closure of insurance offices and a decline in architecture.

A sage discovers a way to cook pig without burning down houses, leading to the invention of the gridiron and later roasting by string or spit. The narrator argues that roast pig, particularly young and tender suckling pig, is the most delicious delicacy.

The narrator describes the unique qualities of roast pig, including the crisp crackling and the combination of fat and lean meat. The narrator praises the taste and versatility of pig, stating that it satisfies both the strong and weak appetites. The narrator expresses a willingness to share other food with friends but draws the line at giving away pig, considering it a personal blessing.

The narrator recalls an incident from his childhood where the gave away a plum-cake his aunt had given him to a beggar. He initially felt proud of his act of charity but later regretted it, realizing he had been ungrateful to his aunt. The narrator reflects on the pleasure his aunt would have felt if he had enjoyed the cake himself, and he feels guilty for his impulsive act of giving it away.

The essay then shifts to discussing the sacrifice of young pigs in the past and questions the wisdom of the practice. It ponders whether the method of whipping the pigs before their death could have enhanced the flavor of the meat, and whether it justifies the inhumane treatment.

The essay mentions a debate among young students about whether the intense pleasure a man might experience from eating a pig subjected to whipping justifies using that method to kill the animal. The outcome of the debate is forgotten. The essay concludes by suggesting a sauce for the pig, emphasizing the exclusion of onions and the use of mild sage. It also describes the pig as a delicate and fragile creature.

Oliver Goldsmith A City Night-Piece Summary

2 Replies to “Charles Lamb Dissertation Upon a Roast Pig Summary”

• Pingback: Charles Lamb Poor Relations Summary – GetSetNotes
• Pingback: Summary of Kristin Hunter The Scribe – GetSetNotes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)