We were talking yesterday about Tizio, Caio e Sempronio, the Italian equivalents of Tom, Dick and Harry and as I was writing that piece, I was intrigued by all the etymological trivia I gathered during my research. I suspect that many of my readers have a love of words, just as I do, so I thought I’d share some of the things I bumped into. They have no practical purpose, except to amuse and simulate the little grey cells of the brain, and I suppose that’s no bad thing.
Did you know, for instance, that Shakespeare talks of a Tom, Dicke, and Francis in Henry IV Part One? (I always feel sorry for poor old Henry, who, like a magician’s assistant, is always cut in two on the stage (See above). I suppose things were worse for Henry VI, who comes in three parts.)
And did you know that Tom, Dick and Harry are (or rather is) an Ascending Tricolon? Although it sounds like an anatomical feature it’s actually a Rhetorical Device, in which three words are placed in order of increasing syllable length, such as ‘lock, stock and barrel,’ hook, line and sinker,’ or ‘tall, dark and handsome.’
How about Tom, Dick and Harry, three Galapagos tortoises brought back to England on HMS Beagle, returning from the expedition that inspired Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species? It was discovered later that Harry was a girl, so she was renamed Harriet. (She died in an Australian zoo at the ripe old age of 176.)
And anotter thing: the three escape tunnels in the German prison camp Stalag Luft III, scene of The Wooden Horse and The Great Escape, were named…yes, you got it!… Tom, Dick and Harry.
{That’s enough etymological trivia. Ed.}
*If you are fascinated by words, you’d enjoy a wonderful week at the Watermill on Jo Parfitt’s Writing Your Life Stories course next year.
Jo Parfitt is an author, journalist, teacher, blogger, conference speaker and poet. She has published 32 books herself, has helped more than 250 authors get into print and more than 2,000 people to begin writing.
Jo’s a compassionate, inspiring, and encouraging teacher: her motto is ‘sharing what I know to help others to grow’.
The Write Your Life Stories creative writing course is designed to help you produce your best work, to find your true writer’s ‘voice’ and to write authentically. Among other things, you’ll discover the secret of SPICE, the seven steps to writing life stories.
Jo says: “The course at the watermill will provide a safe haven in which to unlock your creativity, write from your heart and hone your writing craft. You will be empowered to write in a compelling way, bringing your experiences to life.
The workshop will include several methods and genres and is perfect for anyone wanting to write about their own lives for an effective journal, memoir or blog. If you would enjoy an injection of inspiration in a calm and supportive environment, this course is for you. It is appropriate for students of any level.
Here are some comments from guests on Jo’s previous courses at the Watermill: “The most magical trip to Tuscany, which will stay with me forever!” “It is a very special and beautiful place, and everything was organised so perfectly. Jo is a great tutor and we all had an amazing time.”
Jo Parfitt
21 – 28 September 2024 s
Write your life stories
To learn more about Jo and her course at the mill, please visit please visit her 2024 Tutor Profile Page.