Detailed Summary: A Tragic Story | Oxford English for Class 4 PDF Download

About the Poet

William Makepeace Thackeray was a famous English novelist, poet, and satirist born on July 18, 1811. He is best known for his novel "Vanity Fair," which is considered one of the great English novels. Thackeray's works often reflected the social issues of his time, using humor and irony to critique society. He had a unique style that combined storytelling with illustrations, which made his writings engaging and accessible to readers. Thackeray was also a gifted poet, and his poetry often contained themes of identity, society, and the human condition. His ability to create characters that were both realistic and memorable made him a significant figure in English literature. Thackeray passed away on December 24, 1863, but his works continue to be studied and enjoyed for their wit and insight into human nature.

Key Points of the Poem

• The poem "The Pigtail" consists of six stanzas.
• It tells the story of a sage who is troubled by the way his pigtail hangs behind him.
• The sage is determined to change the position of his pigtail so that it hangs in front of him.
• Despite his many efforts to turn himself around and adjust the pigtail, it remains behind him.
• The poem explores themes of frustration and the futility of trying to change certain aspects of life.
• The humorous tone and repetition emphasize the sage's persistent but unsuccessful attempts.

Detailed Summary

Stanza 1

There lived a sage in days of yore
And he a handsome pigtail wore;
But wondered much and sorrowed more
Because it hung behind him.
He mused upon this curious case
And swore he'd change the pigtail's place
And have it hanging at his face
Not dangling there behind him.
Says he, 'The mystery I've found—
I'll turn me round'—he turned him round;
But still it hung behind him.
Then round and round and out and in
All day the puzzled sage did spin;

In this stanza, we meet an old wise man, called a sage. He lived a long time ago, in a time we can call "days of yore." This sage had a very nice hairstyle, which was a pigtail—this is when hair is tied into a long piece that hangs down. But instead of being happy about it, he felt confused and sad because the pigtail was not in front of him; it was behind him. He thought about this a lot, like when you have a tricky puzzle to solve. He wanted to change where his pigtail was so that it would hang in front of his face instead of behind him. The sage said to himself that he had figured out a mystery. He decided that if he just turned around, the pigtail would be in front of him. But guess what? When he turned around, the pigtail was still behind him! So, he kept trying to turn and spin around all day, going in circles and moving in and out, but no matter what he did, the pigtail just stayed behind him. This shows us how sometimes we can try really hard to change something, but it doesn’t always work the way we want it to.

Stanza 2

In vain—it mattered not a pin
The pigtail hung behind him.
And right and left, and round and about,
And up and down and in and out
He turned; but still the pigtail stout
Hung steadily behind him.
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.

In this second stanza, the sage continues to try and change the position of his pigtail, but it seems like nothing he does is working. The word "in vain" means that he was trying hard, but it was all for nothing, like when you try to lift something heavy but it doesn’t move. The pigtail still hung behind him, just like before. The sage turned right, then left, and spun around in circles. He even tried moving up and down, and in and out, but the pigtail remained where it was—behind him! It’s as if the pigtail had a mind of its own and didn’t want to move to the front. The sage kept trying and never gave up, even though he was twisting and turning his body in different ways. But no matter how much he tried, the pigtail just stayed behind him, like a loyal friend that wouldn’t leave. This stanza teaches us that sometimes, no matter how hard we try or how many different ways we try to solve a problem, things don’t always change, and that's okay. 

Theme/ Message

The poem "The Pigtail" is about a wise man who keeps trying to change the way his pigtail (a type of hairstyle) hangs, but no matter what he does, it stays the same. This shows us that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can’t change certain things about ourselves or our lives. The poem uses funny moments to teach us that it's better to accept things we can't change instead of getting upset. It reminds us to stay happy and not worry too much when things don’t go the way we want.

Difficult Words

• Sage: A wise person, often known for their knowledge and experience.
• Pigtail: A hairstyle where hair is tied into a single braid or ponytail.
• Curious: Eager to learn or know something; unusual or interesting.
• Mused: Thought deeply or pondered over something.
• Twist: To turn something in a spiral shape; to change direction.
• Vain: Having no success; futile; also means excessive pride in one's appearance.
• Stout: Strong and thick; robust.
• Alas: An expression of sorrow or regret.
• Efforts: The physical or mental energy put into doing something.
• Mattered: Was important or significant.
• Faithful: Loyal; steadfast in affection or allegiance.
• Puzzled: Confused or unable to understand something.
• Turned: Changed direction or position.
• Front: The forward-facing part of something.
• Behind: At the back of something; not visible from the front.