10/22/15 UNDERSTANDING THE MORAL/VALUES OF A STORY

What is the “moral” of the story? The moral is the overall lesson that can be taken from the story Usually found in what happens to the main character(s) Is usually general enough to relate to everyone

How do we find the moral? Consider how the main character changes or what he/she goes through What lesson(s) does he/she learn by the end of the story? This can help determine what the author wants YOU to learn by the end of the story

Why would an author want to include a moral?

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing A Wolf was having trouble getting at a herd of sheep because of how well the shepherd and his dogs watched them. But one day the Wolf found the skin of a sheep that had already been killed. He put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The lamb who was the child of the dead sheep - the one whose skin the Wolf was wearing - began to follow the Wolf wearing her mother's skin. Leading the Lamb away, he soon made a meal of her, and for quite some time he succeeded in deceiving the other sheep too and making hearty meals of them.

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing – moral?? Appearances are deceiving. Don't trust just your eyes.

The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf A Shepherd-boy, who watched over a flock of sheep near a village, amused himself three or four times by crying out, “Help! Wolf!” When his neighbors came to help him, he laughed at them for being so gullible. However, one day the wolfdid come. The Shepherd-boy, now terrified, shouted: “Please come and help! The Wolf is killing the sheep.” But no one came to help or even paid attention to his cries. The Wolf, having nothing to fear, took his time destroying the whole flock.

The Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf – moral???

What’s the moral?

How do we get values from the moral? Values are what are important to us We can get values by looking at the overall moral of the story and narrowing it down to a few words

Examples: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Moral: Looks Can be Deceiving Values: honesty, trusting your instincts Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf Moral: Values:

The Thirsty Pigeon A Pigeon, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders. Moral? Values?

The Tortoise and the Hare A Hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise, who replied, laughing: “Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race.” The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue. Moral? Values?

A Master and his Dogs A certain man, detained by a storm in his country house, first of all killed his sheep, and then his goats, for the maintenance of his household. The storm still continuing, he was obliged to slaughter his yoke oxen for food. On seeing this, his Dogs took counsel together, and said, “It is time for us to be off, for if the master spare not his oxen, who work for his gain, how can we expect him to spare us?‘ Moral? Values?