Indian Fairy Tales · Chapter
XIII: The Talkative Tortoise explained
This chapter presents the Jataka tale of the Talkative Tortoise, who is carried through the air by ducks but falls to his death when he opens his mouth to respond to taunts.
What happens
This chapter presents the Jataka tale of the Talkative Tortoise, who is carried through the air by ducks but falls to his death when he opens his mouth to respond to taunts. The story appears in the Bidpai literature and its many offshoots, with variations in the cause of the catastrophe.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the sons, believing their father now possesses hidden wealth,…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Cunning and Wisdom
The tortoise's lack of wisdom in speaking leads to his downfall, contrasting with the cunning of the ducks who carry him.
- Gratitude and Ingratitude
The taunts of the other birds reflect ingratitude and mockery, contributing to the tortoise's fatal response.
Characters to notice
- The Talkative Tortoise
The protagonist who is carried by ducks but falls to his death after opening his mouth to speak.
Key passages
“O here is a brave sight, looke, here is a goodly ieast, what bugge haue we here”
The other birds mock the tortoise as he is carried through the air.
This taunt provokes the tortoise to speak, leading to his fall.
“See, see, she hangeth by the throte, and therefor she speaketh not”
The birds comment that the tortoise is silent because she is hanging by the throat.
This further provocation causes the tortoise to open her mouth and fall.
