The Gruffalo Read by Alan Mandel

Gemsland Online school

15 May 202007:35

Summary

TLDRIn 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson, a clever mouse outwits various predators in the deep dark wood by claiming to be meeting a fearsome creature, the Gruffalo. Each animal describes the Gruffalo with exaggerated features, unknowingly painting a picture of the very creature the mouse encounters. The mouse cleverly convinces the real Gruffalo that it is the scariest creature and leads him on a tour, only to reveal that everyone fears the Gruffalo, causing the mouse to escape unharmed. The tale is a delightful lesson in wit and survival.

Takeaways

🐭 The story revolves around a clever mouse who takes a stroll through the deep dark wood.
🦊 A fox tries to lure the mouse for lunch, but the mouse claims to be meeting a Gruffalo, a creature with terrible tusks, claws, and teeth.
🦉 An owl invites the mouse for tea, but the mouse again mentions the Gruffalo, describing it with knobbly knees and a poisonous wart.
🐍 A snake offers a feast, but the mouse declines, saying the Gruffalo has orange eyes, a black tongue, and purple prickles.
🦄 The mouse encounters a creature that matches the Gruffalo's description, but it turns out to be the real Gruffalo.
😱 The Gruffalo is initially unaware of the mouse's trickery and believes everyone fears him.
😈 The Gruffalo boasts about being the scariest creature in the wood and leads the mouse through the forest.
🐍 The snake, owl, and fox, who previously tried to eat the mouse, flee in fear upon seeing the Gruffalo.
😏 The mouse uses the Gruffalo's fear of himself to turn the tables and gain control of the situation.
🏃‍♂️ The Gruffalo, believing the mouse's story, runs away in fear, leaving the mouse unharmed.
🌰 In the end, the mouse enjoys a peaceful moment in the deep dark wood, finding a nut to eat.

Q & A

What is the title of the story and who are the main characters?
-The title of the story is 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson. The main characters are a mouse, a fox, an owl, a snake, and the Gruffalo.
What does the mouse tell the fox he is going to have for lunch?
-The mouse tells the fox that he is going to have lunch with a Gruffalo.
How does the mouse describe the Gruffalo to the fox?
-The mouse describes the Gruffalo as having terrible tusks, terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.
What does the mouse tell the owl he is going to have for tea?
-The mouse tells the owl that he is going to have tea with a Gruffalo.
How does the mouse describe the Gruffalo to the owl?
-The mouse describes the Gruffalo as having knobbly knees, turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose.
What does the mouse tell the snake he is going to have for a feast?
-The mouse tells the snake that he is going to have a feast with a Gruffalo.
How does the mouse describe the Gruffalo to the snake?
-The mouse describes the Gruffalo as having orange eyes, a black tongue, and purple prickles all over his back.
What does the Gruffalo initially think of the mouse?
-The Gruffalo initially thinks that the mouse will taste good on a slice of bread.
What happens when the Gruffalo, the mouse, and the snake meet?
-When the Gruffalo, the mouse, and the snake meet, the snake is scared and quickly slides away to his log pile house.
What happens when the Gruffalo, the mouse, and the owl meet?
-When the Gruffalo, the mouse, and the owl meet, the owl is scared and quickly flies away to his treetop house.
What happens when the Gruffalo, the mouse, and the fox meet?
-When the Gruffalo, the mouse, and the fox meet, the fox is scared and quickly runs away to his underground house.
What does the mouse do at the end of the story?
-At the end of the story, the mouse finds a nut and eats it.

Outlines

00:00

🐭 The Mouse and the Fox's Encounter

In the first paragraph, a mouse ventures through the deep dark wood, where he encounters a fox. The fox, seeing the mouse as a potential meal, invites him to lunch in his underground house. However, the mouse cleverly declines, claiming he has an appointment with a terrifying creature called the Gruffalo. He describes the Gruffalo as having terrible tusks, claws, teeth, and a diet that includes roasted fox. The fox, believing the mouse to be foolish, lets him go, unaware that the Gruffalo is a fictional creature invented by the mouse.

05:00

🐦 The Mouse and the Owl's Tea Invitation

Continuing through the deep dark wood, the mouse next meets an owl who invites him for tea in his treetop house. Again, the mouse declines, using the same story about his lunch date with the Gruffalo. He describes the Gruffalo as having knobbly knees, turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart on his nose, with a favorite food of owl ice cream. The owl, like the fox before him, is fooled by the mouse's tale and lets him go, further establishing the Gruffalo as a creature of fear in the wood.

🐍 The Mouse and the Snake's Feast Proposal

The mouse's journey continues as he encounters a snake who invites him to a feast in his log pile house. The mouse repeats his story, describing the Gruffalo with orange eyes, a black tongue, and purple prickles on his back, favoring scrambled snake as a meal. The snake, convinced of the Gruffalo's existence, quickly leaves the mouse to his supposed meeting. This encounter further cements the mouse's clever use of the fictional Gruffalo to avoid becoming someone's meal.

🐉 The Mouse's Encounter with the Real Gruffalo

In the climax of the story, the mouse unexpectedly meets the real Gruffalo. The Gruffalo, believing himself to be the scariest creature in the wood, is amused by the mouse's claim of having a lunch date with him. The mouse, playing along, leads the Gruffalo through the wood, where they encounter the snake, owl, and fox again. Each animal, seeing the Gruffalo, flees in terror, confirming the mouse's earlier descriptions. However, when the Gruffalo mentions his favorite food is Gruffalo crumble, the mouse realizes the danger and cleverly escapes, leaving the Gruffalo to flee in fear.

🥳 The Mouse's Victory and the Quiet Wood

In the final paragraph, the mouse is left alone in the deep dark wood after successfully outwitting the Gruffalo and the other animals. The Gruffalo, believing he is now the hunted, runs away, leaving the mouse to enjoy the peace of the wood. The mouse finds a nut, symbolizing his victory and the end of his adventure. The quietness of the wood signifies the end of the chase and the mouse's triumph over the perceived threats.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gruffalo

The 'Gruffalo' is a fictional creature central to the story, characterized by its terrifying features such as terrible tusks, claws, teeth, knobbly knees, turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart. It is a key element of the narrative, symbolizing the unknown and the fear of the unfamiliar. The Gruffalo is mentioned repeatedly throughout the script as the mouse's supposed companion, which ultimately turns out to be real, surprising the other animals and teaching a lesson about the power of bluffing.

💡Mouse

The 'mouse' is the protagonist of the story, who cleverly navigates through the deep dark wood by claiming to be meeting a Gruffalo. The mouse uses the Gruffalo as a deterrent to avoid becoming lunch for the other animals. The character of the mouse exemplifies wit and resourcefulness, and its encounters with various animals drive the plot of the video.

💡Deep dark wood

The 'deep dark wood' is the setting of the story, creating an atmosphere of mystery and potential danger. It is where the mouse takes his stroll and encounters various animals. This environment is crucial to the story's theme of overcoming fear through courage and intelligence.

💡Bluff

The concept of 'bluff' is central to the mouse's strategy for survival. The mouse pretends to be meeting a Gruffalo to deter predators, which is a form of bluffing. This tactic is successful, demonstrating the mouse's cleverness and the power of a well-executed bluff.

💡Fear

'Fear' is a driving force in the story, as each animal is afraid of the Gruffalo's supposed characteristics. The fear of the Gruffalo is what allows the mouse to safely pass through the wood, illustrating how fear can be manipulated to one's advantage.

💡Predator

Several 'predators' are mentioned in the script, such as the fox, owl, and snake, who initially pose a threat to the mouse. These characters represent the dangers that the mouse must outsmart to survive, contributing to the story's suspense and the mouse's eventual triumph.

💡Courage

'Courage' is exemplified by the mouse's actions as it ventures through the deep dark wood, facing potential predators. Despite the dangers, the mouse continues its journey, showing bravery in the face of fear.

💡Intelligence

The mouse's 'intelligence' is highlighted by its ability to deceive the other animals with the story of the Gruffalo. This clever ruse allows the mouse to navigate the wood safely, showcasing the power of wit over physical strength.

💡Roasted Fox

'Roasted Fox' is mentioned as the Gruffalo's favorite food, according to the mouse. This detail adds to the Gruffalo's menacing image and plays on the fox's fear, allowing the mouse to avoid becoming the fox's lunch.

💡Owl Ice Cream

'Owl Ice Cream' is humorously described as the Gruffalo's favorite food when the mouse encounters the owl. This creative and playful term adds a layer of whimsy to the story and further establishes the Gruffalo's fearsome reputation.

💡Scrambled Snake

'Scrambled Snake' is another humorous reference to the Gruffalo's supposed diet, this time when the mouse meets the snake. It reinforces the Gruffalo's role as the top predator in the food chain within the story.

💡Gruffalo Crumble

'Gruffalo Crumble' is a twist in the story where the Gruffalo himself becomes afraid and flees, revealing that he too can be scared. This term is used when the mouse turns the tables on the Gruffalo, showing that appearances can be deceiving and that fear can be a powerful tool.

Highlights

A mouse takes a stroll through the deep dark wood, setting the scene for the story.

The Fox tries to lure the mouse for lunch, introducing the concept of a Gruffalo.

The mouse cleverly avoids the Fox by mentioning a Gruffalo, a creature the Fox fears.

The Owl is introduced, offering tea and adding to the description of the Gruffalo.

The mouse again avoids the Owl by claiming to meet a Gruffalo, deepening the mystery of the creature.

The Snake is introduced, further expanding on the Gruffalo's characteristics.

The mouse uses the Gruffalo as a deterrent against the Snake, showcasing its growing reputation.

The Gruffalo is finally introduced, embodying all the described fearsome traits.

The Gruffalo and the mouse meet, leading to a humorous twist in the story.

The mouse convinces the Gruffalo to walk with him, cleverly using the Gruffalo's fears.

The Snake is the first to be intimidated by the sight of the Gruffalo.

The Owl is similarly scared off by the Gruffalo, reinforcing the mouse's strategy.

The Fox is the last to be confronted by the Gruffalo, leading to a climactic moment.

The mouse reveals his cunning plan to the Gruffalo, turning the tables on the supposed predator.

The Gruffalo flees, showing the mouse's triumph over the creatures of the wood.

The mouse concludes his adventure by finding a nut, symbolizing his cleverness and survival.