Gather Ye Acorns story
In the 1930s, an ancient tree troll encourages young Johnathan Quick to pack his comic book collection and follow his dreams after his practical parents disapprove of them. As the years roll on, things don't go well for the now- older Johnathan, but an opportunity approaches that may allow him to finally get a break. Directed by: Norman Reynolds. Story by: Steven Spielberg, Stu Krieger.
16 total · 1 choice · 6 major · 9 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| working hard vs. taking it easy in life | choice | Jonathan's parents were exceedingly proud of him for how hard he worked. But Jonathan squandered all of his hard earned college tuition money on a flashy car and then resolved never to work another day in his life. Years later he was a drifter who sorely regretted not listening to his parents' advice to work hard. Finally, in an inexplicable stroke of good fortune, a lifetime of loafing about paid of for Jonathan when he found that the junk he had collected over the years was now worth a fortune as collector's items. |
| carefree way of life | major | Jonathan took the enigmatic tree troll's advice and resolved to live a life of leisure. |
| legendary being | major | An enigmatic tree troll offered Jonathan this unsolicited life advice: Give up on going to medical school and follow your dreams. |
| living up to expectations | major | Jonathan was under pressure from his parents to go to medical school. After meeting an enigmatic tree troll, Jonathan decided to itch medical school and become a drifter instead. |
| parental disappointment in a child | major | Alma and Elmer were heartbroken when their son, Jonathan, revealed that he'd squandered his college tuition money on a new roadster. They summarily kicked him out of the house. |
| pursuing one's dream vs. advancing one's career | major | The story explores the consequences of Jonathan giving up on going to medical school in favor of living the free-and-easy lifestyle of a drifter. |
| the desire to pursue one's dream | major | Jonathan gave up on going to medical school in favor of pursuing his dream of living the free-and-easy lifestyle of a drifter. |
| contemplating suicide | minor | After hitting rock bottom, Jonathan resolved to use what little money he had left to fill up his jalopy's gas tank and then drive off of a nearby dam - thus literally hitting rock bottom. |
| coping with a nag | minor | In one scene, 12-year-old Jonathan was relentlessly henpecked by his mother. She guilt tripped the boy into putting his comic book down in favor of a medical textbook, and chided him for having neglected to sweep the front walk and clean his room. |
| father and son | minor | Elmer put a lot of pressure on his son, Jonathan, to go to medical school. |