batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l4496-l4514
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l4496-l4514
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
passage_locator:
label: THE WEASEL AND THE MAN / THE PLOUGHMAN, THE ASS, AND THE OX / DEMADES AND
HIS FABLE / THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN; lines 4496-4514
start: '4496'
end: '4514'
translation: Aesop's Fables; a new translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: '"Oh, yes, he''s a very old friend of mine."'
summary: A man returning to Athens from the East brings a pet Monkey on a ship.
Near Attica, a storm capsizes the ship and those aboard fall into the water. A
Dolphin mistakes the Monkey for a man and carries him toward shore. Near the Piræus,
the Dolphin questions him; the Monkey falsely claims to be an Athenian of distinguished
family and to know the Piræus as an old friend. The Dolphin detects the falsehood,
dives away, and the Monkey drowns.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A man returning to Athens from the East has a pet Monkey aboard a ship.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Near the coast of Attica, a storm capsizes the ship and throws those aboard
into the water.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: A Dolphin sees the Monkey, mistakes him for a man, and carries him on his
back toward shore.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Near the Piræus, the Dolphin asks whether the Monkey is an Athenian.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The Monkey answers that he is an Athenian and claims to come from a distinguished
family.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The Dolphin asks whether the Monkey knows the Piræus.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The Monkey misunderstands Piræus as a person and claims he is an old friend.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The Dolphin detects the Monkey's hypocrisy, dives below the surface, and the
Monkey drowns.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Monkey
description: A pet Monkey aboard a ship returning to Athens; after the wreck he
is carried by a Dolphin, falsely claims Athenian identity and acquaintance with
the Piræus, and drowns when the Dolphin dives away.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Dolphin
description: A Dolphin who mistakes the Monkey for a man, carries him toward shore,
questions him, detects his hypocrisy, and dives below the surface.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Man returning to Athens
description: The owner or companion of the pet Monkey, returning to Athens from
the East with the Monkey on board.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: People on board
description: Those aboard the ship who are thrown into the water and try to save
themselves by swimming.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
roles:
- id: role:1
label: pet passenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Monkey is described as a pet taken aboard for a voyage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: false claimant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Monkey falsely claims Athenian identity, distinguished family, and personal
acquaintance with the Piræus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: drowned victim
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After the Dolphin dives away, the Monkey is quickly drowned.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: mistaken rescuer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Dolphin supposes the Monkey to be a man and carries him on his back toward
shore.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: questioner who exposes falsehood
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Dolphin questions the Monkey about Athenian identity and the Piræus,
then detects his hypocrisy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: human traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The man is returning to Athens from the East with a pet Monkey aboard.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:7
label: shipwrecked group
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: All on board are thrown into the water and try to save themselves by swimming.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: water
literal_form: sea water after the ship capsizes near Attica
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: ship
literal_form: ship carrying travelers, including the pet Monkey, before it capsizes
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: Piræus
literal_form: the port of Athens, named in the Dolphin's question
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: Dolphin's back
literal_form: the Dolphin's back carrying the Monkey toward shore
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Voyage with pet Monkey
summary: A traveler returning to Athens from the East has a pet Monkey aboard the
ship.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Storm and shipwreck
summary: A storm near Attica capsizes the ship, and those aboard fall into the water
and swim for safety.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Dolphin rescue
summary: A Dolphin mistakes the Monkey for a man and carries him on its back toward
shore.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Questioning near the Piræus
summary: The Dolphin questions the Monkey about being Athenian and knowing the Piræus;
the Monkey gives false or mistaken answers.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Exposure and drowning
summary: The Dolphin detects the Monkey's hypocrisy, dives below the surface, and
the Monkey drowns.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: False identity exposed by a test of local knowledge
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Monkey claims to be Athenian and of distinguished family, but his claim
to know the Piræus as a personal friend reveals his ignorance to the Dolphin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not state a formal moral in the provided excerpt; the
motif is inferred from the sequence of questions and exposure.
- id: motif:2
label: Mistaken rescue withdrawn after deception is discovered
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Dolphin begins rescuing the Monkey under the mistaken belief that he
is a man, then abandons him after detecting hypocrisy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level narrative pattern rather than a named taxonomy
motif.
- id: motif:3
label: Animal speech reveals character and ignorance
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The speaking animals' exchange exposes the Monkey's false claim and the Dolphin's
discernment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy has no specific animal-fable category; 'wisdom'
is used only for the discernment/exposure function.
- id: motif:4
label: Boundary-crossing pretender punished
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: The Monkey attempts to pass as an Athenian human of high status while being
carried between sea and shore, and the deception results in drowning.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The Monkey is deceptive but not a successful trickster; the taxonomy reference
is approximate and should be reviewed.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 4496-4501
quote_or_summary: People on voyages take lap-dogs or monkeys as pets; a man returning
to Athens from the East has a pet Monkey on board.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 4502-4505
quote_or_summary: Near Attica, a storm capsizes the ship; all aboard are thrown
into the water and try to swim, including the Monkey.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 4505-4507
quote_or_summary: A Dolphin sees the Monkey, supposes him to be a man, takes him
on his back, and swims toward shore.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 4507-4509
quote_or_summary: Near the Piræus, the port of Athens, the Dolphin asks the Monkey
whether he is an Athenian.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 4509-4510
quote_or_summary: The Monkey replies that he is Athenian and says he comes from
a very distinguished family.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: 4510-4511
quote_or_summary: '"Then, of course, you know the Piræus," continued the Dolphin.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from provided passage.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: 4511-4513
quote_or_summary: The Monkey thought he was referring to some high official or other,
and replied, "Oh, yes, he's a very old friend of mine."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from provided passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 4513-4514
quote_or_summary: Detecting the Monkey's hypocrisy, the Dolphin dives below the
surface, and the Monkey is quickly drowned.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal sequence and figures are clear from the provided passage. Motif labels
are candidate analytical summaries and should be reviewed, especially taxonomy
mapping to 'wisdom' and 'trickster_boundary'. No comparison claims are made because
the passage itself does not support a specific cross-text comparison.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Only the provided passage and metadata were used. The passage locator label mentions multiple fables, but the supplied passage text contains only THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg__l4496-l4514
passage_sha256=e70be8297b4fe0c1ca6f4165b1f720cca83ec5ed6971c084179dc2bbffc47f4e