Events › Epic Story Telling: Shaggy Dog Story

A shaggy dog story is a meandering, gloriously digressive journey through a cascade of events that builds expectation with great care — only to land, deliberately and beautifully, on a disappointing anti-climax. It is storytelling for the sheer pleasure of storytelling. 

The great American humorist Mark Twain called it a “high and delicate art,” recognizing that beneath the apparent rambling lies craft, timing, and control.

Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to experiment with the craft yourself — practicing calculated digressions, strategic detail, narrative pacing, and the subtle art of misdirection. These elements are not only essential to shaggy dog storytelling; they’re surprisingly useful in everyday life, from public speaking to persuasive conversation.

Accessibility
Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.