Chapter Pelides to Penelope's Web of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

represented as telling the story of The Newcomes. Arthur Pendennis stands in relation to Thackeray as David Copperfield does to Charles Dickens.

Arthur Pendennis, a young man of ardent feelings and lively intellect, but self-conceited and selfish. He has a keen sense of honour, and a capacity for loving, but altogether he is not an attractive character.

Laura Pendennis. This is one of the best of Thackeray’s characters.

Major Pendennis, a tuft-hunter, who fawns on his patrons for the sake of wedging himself into their society.—Thackeray: The History of Pendennis (1850).

In this novel “Clavering” is Ottery St. Mary, in Devonshire, where Thackeray spent this holidays between 1825 and 1828; “Chatteris”is Exeter; and “Bagmouth” is Sidmouth.

Pendragon, probably a title meaning “chief leader in war.” Dragon is Welsh for a “leader in war.” and pen for “head” or “chief.” The title was given to Uther, brother of Constans, and father of prince Arthur. Like the word “Pharaoh,” it is used as a proper name without the article.—Geoffrey: Chronicle, vi. (1142).

Once I read
That stout Pendragon in his litter, sick,
Came to the field and vanquishéd his foes.

Shakespeare: 1 Henry VI. act iii. sc. 2 (1589).

Penelope’s Web, a work that never progresses. Penelopê, the wife of Ulysses, being importunated by several suitors during her husband’s long absence, made reply that she could not marry again, even if Ulysses were dead, till she had finished weaving a shroud for her aged father-in-law. Every night she unravelled what she had woven during the day, and thus the shroud made no progress towards completion.—Greek Mythology. (See Vortigern’s Tower.)

(The French say of a work “never ending, still beginning,” c’est l’ouvrage de Pénélope.)

Ovid, in his Heroïdes , has an hyp othetical letter supposed to have been written by Penelope to Ulysses, telling him that the Greeks had returned from Troy, and imploring him to hasten home. She tells him how weary she is at his long absence, and at being so pestered for her hand and kingdom.