What About Me? By Ed Young Read Aloud

Summary

In 'What About Me' by Ed Young, a boy embarks on a journey to gain knowledge from a grandmaster, only to realize the interconnectedness of needs in life. He travels through several stages, helping people with their own needs, including a carpet maker, a spinner, a goat seller, and a carpenter. Eventually, he discovers that knowledge comes not from seeking it directly, but through giving to others. The story highlights the importance of selflessness, cooperation, and the unexpected ways in which wisdom can be acquired.

Takeaways

• 😀 The boy seeks knowledge from the grandmaster but learns that the process involves helping others.
• 😀 The boy's journey starts with his desire for knowledge, which he hopes to gain from the grandmaster.
• 😀 The grandmaster asks the boy to bring a small carpet for his work, setting off a chain of tasks and exchanges.
• 😀 The boy discovers that every person he encounters has their own needs, which must be fulfilled in exchange for help.
• 😀 The carpet maker requires thread, the spinner requires goat hair, the goat keeper needs goats, and so on.
• 😀 The boy's journey shows that everyone has needs, and helping others often requires fulfilling those needs first.
• 😀 Through each encounter, the boy learns that the pursuit of knowledge is interwoven with other people's needs and support.
• 😀 The matchmaker reveals that the key to the boy’s quest lies in helping the people around him, rather than simply asking for knowledge.
• 😀 The boy helps a merchant’s daughter who is in love with a carpenter, which leads to the fulfillment of all the needs needed for the grandmaster.
• 😀 Ultimately, the boy returns to the grandmaster with the small carpet and is granted knowledge, realizing that wisdom is often gained unexpectedly through acts of kindness and giving.
• 😀 The story concludes with the lesson that the most valuable gifts we receive are often those given to others, and knowledge can come when we least expect it.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the story 'What About Me' by Ed Young?

The main theme of the story is that knowledge and wisdom often come when we are giving, and that everyone has their own needs. The story emphasizes how interconnected our needs are and how helping others can lead to unexpected outcomes.

What does the boy initially seek from the grandmaster?

The boy seeks knowledge from the grandmaster, but does not know how to obtain it. He believes that the grandmaster will give him some wisdom if he can just meet his needs.

How does the boy's journey unfold after meeting the grandmaster?

The boy’s journey leads him to various people, each of whom has their own needs. From the carpet maker to the matchmaker, he has to fulfill the needs of others before he can obtain what he desires—knowledge from the grandmaster.

Why does the boy struggle to obtain knowledge?

The boy struggles because he becomes caught in a cycle of fulfilling the needs of others before he can meet his own need for knowledge. This cycle reveals the interconnectedness of people's desires and needs.

What role does the matchmaker play in the story?

The matchmaker helps the boy by providing the name of a girl for the carpenter, but she also teaches the boy a lesson about how complicated and interconnected needs are. She ultimately stops him from pursuing knowledge in a traditional way.

What is the boy's realization by the end of the story?

By the end of the story, the boy realizes that the journey of helping others has led him to the very knowledge he sought. The grandmaster tells him that he already possesses knowledge because he helped fulfill others’ needs.

How does the grandmaster view knowledge?

The grandmaster views knowledge as something that is not simply given or taken, but something that comes to us when we least expect it—often when we are helping others or when we are not focused on it directly.

What does the boy learn about giving and receiving in the story?

The boy learns that sometimes, the most valuable things, like knowledge, are received when we give without expecting something in return. The interconnectedness of everyone's needs teaches him a deeper understanding of generosity.

Why is the boy's request for knowledge initially rejected by the grandmaster?

The grandmaster does not directly reject the boy's request but instead leads him on a journey to understand that knowledge is not a simple transaction. He shows the boy that true wisdom comes from the experience of helping others meet their needs.

How does the boy eventually obtain the knowledge he desires?

The boy obtains knowledge indirectly. Through fulfilling the needs of others, he learns valuable life lessons, and when he finally returns to the grandmaster, he realizes that he already has the knowledge he sought.