The Proverbs. On Moral Lessons and Story Summaries

Many stories tell about kindness, love for work, and the perils of being lazy.

In different parts of the world, children grow up learning these stories from grandparents, relatives, helpers, and of course, the school and church.

Children get very excited every time they hear these stories. From these stories, they extract life’s lessons quite easily.

Good manners and right conduct are the writer’s evident highlights in literature, especially those that children read. Stories must be positively interpreted.

Ponder upon these Proverbs and take a folktale, fable or parable as examples.

Chapter 6.10-11

Let me sleep a little longer!
Sure, just a little more!
And as you sleep, poverty creeps upon you like a robber and destroys you; want attacks you in full armor.

Folktale: The Lazy Boy Juan

Once, Juan was asked by his mother to buy some crabs. Because he was so lazy and stupid, he told the crabs “I feel so sleepy. I’d rather sleep here under the tree. All of you crabs just walk home to mother.”

What can you say?

Chapter 6.12-15

Let me describe for you a worthless and a wicked man; first, he is a constant liar; he signals his true intentions to his friends with eyes and feet and fingers. Next, his heart is full of rebellion. And he spends his time thinking of all the evil he can do, and stirring up discontent. But he will be destroyed suddenly, broken beyond hope of healing.

Parable: The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Once, a boy spent his time thinking and stirring up discontent in his work. He thought of alarming his neighbors and playing up on them. Several times, he deceived his neighbors and shouted for help. So the neighbors tried to help him, but the boy only screamed a lie. In the end, no one came to help him when the wolf really attacked.

Chapter 6.16-19

For there are six things the lord hates – no, seven:

Haughtiness
Lying
Murdering
Plotting evil
Eagerness to do wrong
A false witness
Sowing discord among brothers

Parable: The Bundle of Sticks

Thought: Showing kindness, not discord brings true happiness and freedom to everyone.

Tips: How To Summarize Stories

1. Read the story again and again, until you can remember what happens.

Example: The Boy Who Cried Wolf

2. Know the setting, the characters, the plot (beginning, conflict, climax, resolution), the theme and the ideas or lessons, the story presents, among others.

The setting is in the farm.

The characters are the lion and the mouse. You can include the hunters, if you will portray the action in the story and write snippets of dialogue.

The climax in the plot is the time when the boy cried for help, and no one came. A real wolf attacked his flock of sheep (after his series of lying), and his neighbors didn’t believe him anymore.

3. Set a limit to your number of words (500, 250, 100). Use your own words and not those of the original author.

Be creative in your summary or re-telling of the story.

4. Retain the structure of the story. Retain the point of view of the original.

Don’t distort the theme of the story. Never mess with the truth and ideas the story tells.

5. There are many ways to be creative, but be careful with the story elements.

Make a research. Know the story by heart. Relate to your point in time and to your audience.

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