Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Flatland with Notes and Commentary
- Part I This World
- Part II Other Worlds
- 13 How I had a Vision of Lineland
- 14 How in my Vision I endeavoured to explain the nature of Flatland, but could not
- 15 Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland
- 16 How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland
- 17 How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds
- 18 How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there
- 19 How, though the Sphere showed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it
- 20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision
- 21 How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success
- 22 How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result
- Epilogue by the Editor
- Continued Notes
- Appendix A Critical Reaction to Flatland
- Appendix B The Life and Work of Edwin Abbott Abbott
- Recommended Reading
- References
- Index of Defined Words
- Index
21 - How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Flatland with Notes and Commentary
- Part I This World
- Part II Other Worlds
- 13 How I had a Vision of Lineland
- 14 How in my Vision I endeavoured to explain the nature of Flatland, but could not
- 15 Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland
- 16 How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland
- 17 How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds
- 18 How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there
- 19 How, though the Sphere showed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it
- 20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision
- 21 How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success
- 22 How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result
- Epilogue by the Editor
- Continued Notes
- Appendix A Critical Reaction to Flatland
- Appendix B The Life and Work of Edwin Abbott Abbott
- Recommended Reading
- References
- Index of Defined Words
- Index
Summary
I awoke rejoicing, and began to reflect on the glorious career before me. I would go forth, me thought, at once, and evangelize the whole of Flatland. Even to Women and Soldiers should the Gospel of Three Dimensions be proclaimed. I would begin with my Wife.
Just as I had decided on the plan of my operations, I heard the sound of many voices in the street commanding silence. Then followed a louder voice. It was a herald's proclamation. Listening attentively, I recognized the words of the Resolution of the Council, enjoining the arrest, imprisonment, or execution of any one who should pervert the minds of the people by delusions, and by professing to have received revelations from another World.
I reflected. This danger was not to be trifled with. It would be better to avoid it by omitting all mention of my Revelation, and by proceeding on the path of Demonstration – which after all, seemed so simple and so conclusive that nothing would be lost by discarding the former means. “Upward, not Northward” – was the clue to the whole proof. It had seemed to me fairly clear before I fell asleep; and when I first awoke, fresh from my dream, it had appeared as patent as Arithmetic; but somehow it did not seem to me quite so obvious now. Though my Wife entered the room opportunely just at that moment, I decided, after we had interchanged a few words of commonplace conversation, not to begin with her.
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- Information
- FlatlandAn Edition with Notes and Commentary, pp. 204 - 209Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009