The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea by Aesop for ESL students with a video, vocabulary practice in real context, and questions for discussion based on the English Immersion Program
The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Shipwrecked Man and the Sea
The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea
A shipwrecked man cast up on the beach fell asleep after his struggle with the waves. When he woke up, he bitterly reproached the sea for its treachery in enticing men with its smooth and smiling surface, and then, when they were well embarked, turning in fury upon them and sending both ship and sailors to destruction.
The sea arose in the form of a woman, and replied, “Lay not the blame on me, O sailor, but on the winds. By nature, I am as calm and safe as the land itself: but the winds fall upon me with their gusts and gales, and lash me into a fury that is not natural to me.”
English proverbs from the short story
Here are a few proverbs that are thematically related to “The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea”:
Necessity is the mother of invention.
This proverb suggests that when faced with difficult circumstances, people are often forced to find creative solutions.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of gratitude and its positive impact on one’s life.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
This proverb suggests that even in difficult times, there is often a positive aspect to be found.
All of these proverbs align with the central themes of the fable, which are gratitude, resilience, and the ability to find hope even in the face of adversity.
Moral of the short story
The moral of Aesop’s fable, “The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea,” is gratitude and humility. The story tells of a man who is shipwrecked and finds himself stranded on a deserted island. He is initially angry and resentful of his situation, but over time, he learns to appreciate the basic necessities that the sea provides him. He realizes that even in his dire circumstances, he is not alone and that nature can offer solace and sustenance.
By the end of the story, the man has developed a deep sense of gratitude for the sea and for his own resilience. The moral is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always something to be thankful for, and that humility can help us to appreciate the simple things in life.
Vocabulary in real context
- shipwrecked man: a man whose ship has been sunk and destroyed
- reproach: to admonish, chide, accuse, reprove, criticize, rebuke, reprimand
- treachery: deceit, treason, betrayal
- entice: to tempt, seduce, induce, lure, cajole
- embarked: aboard, on board
- fury: anger, wrath
- sailor: someone who works aboard a boat or ship, mariner
- gust: a sudden and powerful rush or burst of wind, explosion
- gale: an extremely strong wind, windstorm
- lash: to smash onto, whip
Questions for discussion
- What happened to the man in the story?
- How did the man feel about his situation at first?
- How does the man’s attitude towards the sea change throughout the story? Why do you think this happens?
The shipwrecked man at first was angry at the sea because he was betrayed from the smiling face of the sea but then he found out that sea wasn’t the one that made all of the big waves of the sea , it was the aggressive winds.
You’re absolutely right, Soroosh. According to the short story, the sailor was so hasty and immature at judging others. This superficial look at things was one of the sources of his misery and depression.
A shipwrecked man was initially mad at the sea for its furious and fatal waves, but later on, he discovers that the sea is not to be blamed but the wind.
I believe the moral of this short fable is to put the blame on the right person and not to slander.
You surely got the main message of the fable right. The habit of blaming others unconditionally leads us nowhere. As a matter of fact, the sailor was barking up the wrong tree.