Goose Egg Quote by R.A. Lafferty
““Atrox Fabulinus, the Roman Rabelais, once broke off the account of his hero Raphaelus in the act of opening a giant goose egg to fry it in an iron skillet of six yards' span. Fabulinus interrupted the action with these words: “Here it becomes necessary to pause for a moment and to recount to you the history of the world up to this point.” After Fabulinus had given the history of the world up to that point, he took up the action of Raphaelus once more. It happened that the giant goose egg contained a nubile young girl. This revelation would have been startling to a reader who had not just read the history of the world up to that point; which history—being Fabulinian in its treatment—prepared him for the event.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: The Rabelais of the Roman Empire, 1975
A narrator pauses a dramatic scene to recount world history, creating surprise when the story resumes.
In simple terms: Storytelling can use pauses for context, leading to unexpected twists.
Key Takeaway
Use narrative pauses to build tension and reveal surprise.
Themes
storytelling
structure
surprise
history
pause
Mood
intriguing
playful
Type
literary
metafictional
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- public speaking
- teaching storytelling
Key Concepts
narrative technique
meta‑storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it effective to pause for background?
- How does context shape audience expectations?
A Different Perspective
Overusing exposition can stall momentum and disengage the audience.
