Look at the picture below and describe it to your classmates.

Androcles and the Lion (Aesop)

It happened, in ancient times that a slave named Androcles escaped from his master and fled into the
forest. And he wandered there for a long time ‘til he was weary. Just then he heard a lion near him moaning,
and groaning and at times roaring terribly. And when he tried to get up, there he saw the lion coming towards
him. Instead of attacking him, it kept on moaning and groaning, and looking at Androcles who saw that the
lion was holding out its right paw which was covered with blood much swollen. Looking more closely at it,
Androcles saw a great big thorn pressed into the paw, which was the cause of all the lion’s trouble. Plucking
up courage, he seized hold of the thorn and drew it out of the lion’s paw, who roared with pain when the thorn
came out.

And soon after, found such relief from it that he ramped up against Androcles and showed that he was
truly thankful from being relieved from such pain.

 
 One day, a number of soldiers came marching through the forest, and found Androcles. They took him
prisoner and brought him back to the town and he was condemned to death because he had fled from his
master.

Now it used to be the custom to throw murderers and other criminals to the lions. And on the appointed
day, he was led forth into the arena. The emperor of Rome was in the royal box that day and gave the signal
for the lion to come out and attack Androcles. But when it came out of its cage, and got near Androcles, what
do you think it did?

Instead of jumping upon him, it rubbed up against him and stroked him with his paw. It was of course
the lion which Androcles had met in the forest. The emperor summoned Androcles to him. So, Androcles told
the emperor how the lion showed its gratitude for his having relieved it of the thorn. Thereupon, the emperor
pardoned Androcles and ordered his master to set him free. While the lion was taken back into the forest and
let loose and enjoy freedom once more.
 
1. What is the setting of the story? How does it relate to the
characters?
2. Identify the main characters in the story. Describe each
characters personality. How are they related and why?
3. What changes did the characters go through as the story
unfolded?
4. What do you think is the theme of the story? How did the
characters help reveal the theme?
Analyzing Story Plot

The plot is one of the elements of a narrative.

It consists of several events. The events tell the
action and conflict that leads to its climax and
conclusion. It is the storyline plan or scheme.
2. En medias res. This is a Latin phrase which means
“into the middle of things”. Unlike the direct
narration pattern of story events, another related
story is narrated inside the main plotline. It is
narrating from the midpoint rather than the
beginning- usually opening with a dramatic action
rather than the exposition.
3. Flashback. This device presents to the reader all or most
of the events that have taken place before the events that
are currently unfolding in the story. The events may be
past narratives by characters of their dreams or memories
to create a background to the present situation, place or
person. These may be placed at the beginning or may be
inserted into the normal chronological order of events.
Group yourselves into 4 groups. Do a
presentation of the plot using the
chronological-sequential arrangement of
events.
Let’s Remember This

The plot is one of the elements of a narrative. It

consists of several events. The events tell the action and
conflict that leads to its climax and conclusion. It is the
storyline plan or scheme.

The plot may be presented through literary devices such

as: Chronologicalsequential arrangement of events, en
medias res and flashback.
Identify which element of the narrative are the following sentences. Write
the correct number corresponding to the event. 1- Exposition 2- Rising
Action 3- Climax 4- Falling Action 5- Resolution 6- En medias res 7-
Flashback
___1. The real owner of the dirty sweater eventually admitted that it was
hers.
___2. Mrs. Price put the dirty sweater on Rachel to shame her.
___3. It happened, in ancient times that a slave named Androcles escaped
from his master and fled into the forest.
___4. Plucking up courage, he seized hold of the thorn and drew it out of the
lion’s paw, who roared with pain when the thorn came out.
1- Exposition 2- Rising Action 3- Climax 4- Falling Action 5-
Resolution 6- En medias res 7- Flashback
___5. The emperor of Rome was in the royal box that day and
gave the signal for the lion to come out and attack Androcles.
___6. Just then he heard a lion near him moaning, and groaning
and at times roaring terribly.
___7. The emperor summoned Androcles to him. So, Androcles
told the emperor how the lion showed its gratitude for his having
relieved it of the thorn.
1- Exposition 2- Rising Action 3- Climax 4- Falling Action 5-
Resolution 6- En medias res 7- Flashback
___8. Rachel remembered the look in her classmates eyes as they
ridiculed her in front of the class.
___9. Thereupon, the emperor pardoned Androcles and ordered his
master to set him free. While the lion was taken back into the
forest and let loose and enjoy freedom once more.
___10. Belle and the Beast lived happily ever after.