Side-By-Side Plot Comparisons

Today we watched a short film called "The Dam Keeper" and did a comparative analysis of plot and theme with this film and the novel “The One and Only Ivan”. Can you make some deeper comparisons and go beyond Ivan is like Pig and Ruby is like Fox. How are the characters similar? How is the relationship between Pig and Fox similar to the relationship between Ivan and Ruby? How are they different? Think: How does the introduction of a new character in both stories (Fox/Ruby) cause the main character (Pig/Ivan) to change? How does this relationship affect the outcome of the story? How is the conflict of character vs. society evident in both stories? Dig Deeper: Quote taken from The Dam Keeper “Dad had always said the job of a dam keeper is to keep the darkness away.  But he never told me what to do when it surrounds you.  His mask protected me from the cloud, but nothing I had, protected me from the people. ” How does this quote also apply to Ivan? Does he wear a “mask” as well? Perhaps in a more symbolic rather than a literal sense of the word?

Respond: How are the themes of loneliness, bullying, isolation and friendship similar in these two stories. Do the authors’ have similar messages?