Fun Animation Showing How to Identify a Theme within a Story

Summary

In this humorous twist on a book club, no one has read the book, so the group asks Aesop to share one of his famous fables instead. He tells the tale of a monkey and a dolphin, in which a shipwrecked monkey, saved by a dolphin, falsely claims to know Athens and its famous harbor, Piraeus. When the dolphin realizes the lie, he abandons the monkey, who ultimately drowns. The group reflects that the moral is about honesty, as lying only worsens one’s troubles. The skit underscores Aesop’s timeless moral lessons, humorously reminding the group to read the book next time.

Takeaways

• 📚 ESOP was a writer in ancient Greece known for his fables, which teach moral lessons.
• 👥 A group of friends is about to start a book club but realizes that no one read the assigned book.
• 🤔 They decide to have ESOP tell one of his fables instead of discussing the book.
• 🐵 The fable ESOP shares is called 'The Monkey and the Dolphin,' involving a sailor, a monkey, and a dolphin.
• 🌊 A storm destroys the sailor's ship, and the dolphin saves the monkey, thinking it's a man.
• 😬 The monkey lies to the dolphin, claiming to be from Athens and knowing a famous place called Piraeus.
• 🦸 The dolphin becomes angry when he realizes the monkey is lying, and lets the monkey drown.
• ❌ The friends discuss the moral and decide that lying, especially in times of trouble, will only make things worse.
• 🗣️ They realize the story's theme and character development change as the plot progresses.
• 📖 The group agrees they should try to actually read the book for their next meeting.

Q & A

Who is ESOP in the script?

ESOP is a time-traveling version of the ancient Greek writer Aesop, known for his fables that teach life lessons through morals.

What is the main issue at the start of the book club?

The main issue is that nobody in the group has read the book, which leads to a dilemma about how to proceed with the book club meeting.

What suggestion is made to keep the book club discussion going despite no one reading the book?

The group suggests that ESOP tell one of his fables instead of discussing the book.

Which fable does ESOP tell during the book club meeting?

ESOP tells the fable of 'The Monkey and the Dolphin.'

What happens in the fable 'The Monkey and the Dolphin'?

A sailor brings along a monkey on a voyage, but a storm hits, and the monkey is saved by a dolphin, who mistakes him for a human. The monkey lies to the dolphin, claiming he knows the city of Athens and its famous harbor, Parus. When the dolphin realizes the monkey is lying, he flips the monkey off his back, leaving him to drown.

What initial moral lesson does one of the book club members suggest for the fable?

One member suggests that the moral is 'Help will be there when you need it,' referring to the helpfulness of the dolphin.

Why does the suggested moral change as the story progresses?

The suggested moral changes because the monkey lies, and the dolphin, feeling deceived, abandons him, which changes the lesson from one of help to a warning against lying.

What is the final moral of 'The Monkey and the Dolphin'?

The final moral is that 'Lying will only make things worse,' as the monkey’s dishonesty leads to his downfall.

How do the members of the book club react to the fable?

The members are surprised by the dolphin’s reaction and the sudden twist in the story, realizing that the moral of the fable isn't as simple as they initially thought.

What is the conclusion of the book club meeting?

The group agrees that the theme of the fable changes over the course of the story and ends with a plan to read the book for the next meeting.