The Magic Drum Story | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

In the kingdom of Calabar, Duke Orfium's magical drum, which could fill a table with food, was coveted by all. A tortoise, desiring the drum's power, tricked the Duke into giving it away. However, the tortoise's greed led to the drum's magic being broken, and he was publicly shamed. The story teaches a lesson about the dangers of jealousy, greed, and laziness, as the tortoise's family ended up living in holes as a reminder of their folly.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The story revolves around Duke Orfium, a ruler with a magical drum that can provide food for all, symbolizing the power of abundance and the potential for greed.
• 🍽️ The drum is a symbol of desire for many, who believe it can solve their problems and provide endless comfort, highlighting the human tendency to seek shortcuts to happiness.
• 🐢 A humble tortoise, through a series of events, ends up possessing the drum, which is a turning point that leads to the unfolding of the story's moral lessons.
• 👑 Duke Orfium's decision to give the drum to the tortoise demonstrates his sense of justice and fairness, even if it means parting with a precious object.
• 🌳 The tortoise's initial joy with the drum's power is short-lived, as he learns that the magic comes with conditions, teaching the lesson that power without responsibility is dangerous.
• 🚫 The story emphasizes the consequences of greed and arrogance through the tortoise's experiences, showing that these traits can lead to the loss of even the most powerful magic.
• 🏃‍♂️ The tortoise's attempt to use the drum for personal gain and to impress others backfires, illustrating the futility of materialistic pursuits.
• 🌳 The second magical tree, like the drum, comes with conditions that are broken due to the tortoise's son's greed, reinforcing the theme that greed corrupts.
• 🏠 The tortoise and his family's eventual life in a hole serves as a lasting reminder of the perils of greed and arrogance, turning their misfortune into a universal lesson.
• 🔄 The story concludes with a call for humility and hard work, suggesting that true happiness and fulfillment come from one's own efforts rather than magical shortcuts.

Q & A

What was the magical ability of Duke Airfium's drum?

Duke Airfium's drum had the magical ability to fill the table with food for all, providing a taste of sugar and salt, ensuring that everyone was happy, friendly, and delighted.

Why did everyone desire Duke Airfium's drum?

Everyone desired Duke Airfium's drum because they believed it would solve all their problems, provide them with food regardless of the weather, and allow them to live without the need for work or effort.

How did the tortoise come to possess the magic drum?

The tortoise came to possess the magic drum after a misunderstanding where the princess accidentally ate a palm nut that the tortoise had dropped. The tortoise demanded justice, and Duke Airfium, in an attempt to resolve the issue, gave the tortoise the drum.

What was the condition associated with the ownership of the magic drum?

The condition associated with the ownership of the magic drum was that the owner could not walk over a stick or a tree; if they did, the juju of the drum would be broken, and it would have to be returned.

Why did the tortoise's use of the drum eventually backfire?

The tortoise's use of the drum backfired because he stepped over a twig, breaking the juju of the drum. This caused the Guardians of the drum to perform a magic that made the tortoise fly in the air with the drum, exposing his greed and arrogance to everyone.

What lesson did the tortoise learn from his experience with the magic drum?

The tortoise learned that greed and arrogance cannot bring good and that trying to gain popularity and ease through magical means is not sustainable. He realized the importance of hard work and humility.

What was the outcome of the tortoise's second encounter with Duke Airfium after the drum's juju was broken?

After the drum's juju was broken, the tortoise returned it to Duke Airfium, admitting his mistake and expressing his regret. Duke Airfium forgave him and used the opportunity to teach a lesson to all his subjects about the perils of laziness and arrogance.

How did the tortoise's son contribute to the breaking of the juju of the second magical tree?

The tortoise's son, wanting to show off the good food to his friends, put a crumpled piece of coal in his father's bag, which left a trail to the magical tree. This led to the tree's disappearance when the tortoise's son demanded a feast from it, breaking the juju.

What is the significance of tortoises living in holes in the ground as depicted in the story?

In the story, tortoises live in holes in the ground as a reminder of the perils of greed and arrogance, symbolizing the consequences faced by the tortoise and his family for their actions.

What moral does the story convey about the nature of desire and the importance of hard work?

The story conveys that the nature of desire, when driven by greed and laziness, can lead to one's downfall. It emphasizes the importance of hard work, humility, and the understanding that true happiness and fulfillment come from one's own efforts rather than magical shortcuts.