The Decameron
The Decameron
Ten young people escape a deadly plague in medieval Italy and spend ten days in a beautiful villa telling each other one hundred entertaining stories. Their tales range from funny and romantic to tragic and wise, revealing the full spectrum of human nature.
Ten friends live in a big city.
Ten friends live in a big city.
The city is very sick.
The city is very sick.
Many people are getting sick too.
Many people are getting sick too.
The friends are scared.
The friends are scared.
"We must leave,"
"We must leave,"
says Maria.
says Maria.
"Let's go to my house in the mountains."
"Let's go to my house in the mountains."
The ten friends pack their bags.
The ten friends pack their bags.
They drive far away from the sick city.
They drive far away from the sick city.
Maria's house is beautiful.
Maria's house is beautiful.
It has a big garden with flowers and trees.
It has a big garden with flowers and trees.
"What will we do here?"
"What will we do here?"
asks Tom.
asks Tom.
"Let's tell stories!"
"Let's tell stories!"
says Anna.
says Anna.
"Every day, one person tells a story."
"Every day, one person tells a story."
"We have ten people, so we get ten stories."
"We have ten people, so we get ten stories."
The friends like this idea very much.
The friends like this idea very much.
On the first day, Maria tells a story about a magic cat.
On the first day, Maria tells a story about a magic cat.
The cat can talk and helps a poor boy become rich.
The cat can talk and helps a poor boy become rich.
On the second day, Tom tells a story about a princess who saves a dragon from bad knights.
On the second day, Tom tells a story about a princess who saves a dragon from bad knights.
Each day, a different friend tells a story.
Each day, a different friend tells a story.
They tell funny stories, sad stories, and love stories.
They tell funny stories, sad stories, and love stories.
Some stories have animals that talk.
Some stories have animals that talk.
Some stories have magic.
Some stories have magic.
The friends laugh together.
The friends laugh together.
They cry together.
They cry together.
They forget about the sick city.
They forget about the sick city.
After ten days, the city is better.
After ten days, the city is better.
The friends can go home now.
The friends can go home now.
But they are different people.
But they are different people.
The stories changed them.
The stories changed them.
"We learned something important,"
"We learned something important,"
says Anna.
says Anna.
"Stories help us when times are hard."
"Stories help us when times are hard."
"Stories bring people together."
"Stories bring people together."
The friends hug goodbye.
The friends hug goodbye.
They promise to meet again next year to tell more stories.
They promise to meet again next year to tell more stories.
Even today, people tell stories when life is difficult.
Even today, people tell stories when life is difficult.
Stories give us hope.
Stories give us hope.
Stories help us remember that we are not alone.
Stories help us remember that we are not alone.