Tales from the Public Domain

“Tales from the Public Domain” is the fourteenth episode of The Simpsons’ thirteenth season. The episode aired on March 17, 2002 in the US. It is the 5th non-"Treehouse of Horror" trilogy episode

1 Plot
2 Cultural references
- 2.1 Self-references
3 External links

[edit] Plot

Homer is told that he has an overdue book from the library, which he checked out when Bart was a baby. He says that he had intended to read to Bart every day, but various things had gotten in his way. (“Mostly car-related,” he remarks. “Piece of crap.”) Before he returns it, he reads from the book, telling three stories.

[edit] D’oh, Brother Where Art Thou? (The Odyssey)

In this story, Homer is Odysseus, and delivers the King of Troy (Ned Flanders) a Trojan horse. He and his crew, including Apu, Lenny, Moe, Professor Frink and Carl, kill all of Troy’s citizens and win. However, he refuses to sacrifice a sheep, angering the gods, Zeus (Mayor Quimby), Dionysus (Barney), and Poseidon (the Sea Captain). Poseidon literally blows Odysseus and his crew to the Sirens (Patty and Selma) and visit Circe (Lindsey Naegle), who turns his crew into pigs, whom Odysseus eats. Circe orders Odysseus to go through Hades, crossing the River Styx, in order to go home so he can see Penelope (Marge) and Telemachus (Bart). When he arrives back to Ithaca, he spears all of the suitors (Krusty the Klown, Kirk Van Houten, Groundskeeper Willie, Mr. Burns, and Sideshow Mel) trying to please Penelope. Penelope decides to take him back, though he leaves to get wasted.

[edit] Hot Child in the City (Joan of Arc)

Lisa is Joan of Arc, who leads the French against the English in the Hundred Years’ War. Despite her family's concern, she joins the army, where she has new ideas about defeating the enemy. She meets the King of France (Milhouse). During a battle, the English capture Joan and put her on trial. She is accused of witchcraft, and sentenced to death. When Lisa claims that she was following God’s will, Groundskeeper Willie reveals that he too was chosen by God, but to lead the English armies against the French. God’s voice then excuses Himself by revealing that the two were never supposed to meet.

As they read the end, Joan of Arc is being burnt at the stake. Shocked, Lisa asks Homer “Do they actually burn her?” Marge then interrupts, and rips out the last page of the book, claiming that Sir Lancelot rescues her, and they escape and live in a spaceship (Marge then rips out the page and eats it, remarking that it is easier to chew than the video of Bambi).

[edit] Do the Bard, Man (Hamlet)

Bart is Prince Hamlet in this Simpsons version of William Shakespeare’s classic. His uncle Claudius (Moe) marries Gertrude (Marge) after killing King Hamlet (Homer) by way of poison. The King returns to his son as a ghost, telling him of the betrayal and requesting that his death be avenged. Prince Hamlet, with the help of a professional actor (Krusty), puts on a play to make Claudius reveal himself to be guilty; however, Hamlet's reaction leads everyone to believe that he is crazy, so Ophelia (Lisa) decides to “out-crazy” him by prancing around and singing a stupid song, eventually jumping out the window and into the moat where she drowns. Because Hamlet knows what he did, Claudius attempts to kill him. Hamlet, aiming to kill Claudius, accidentally kills Polonius (Chief Wiggum). His son, Laertes (Ralph Wiggum), proposes to duel Prince Hamlet for revenge. As his “practice stab,” Laertes kills himself, and Hamlet proceeds to murder Claudius. Rosencarl and Guildenlenny (Carl and Lenny), meanwhile, have been covered in poison and kill each other with a high five). Hamlet walks away to celebrate, but he slips on some blood and dies. Seeing a big mess she does not want to clean up, Gertrude commits suicide by hitting herself with a mace and everyone is dead.

Bart thinks Hamlet was boring despite every character dying, but Homer tells him that the story led to the hit film Ghostbusters, and all the Simpsons dance to the theme.

[edit] Cultural references

The title “D’oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” is a play on the film title O Brother, Where Art Thou?, itself based on The Odyssey. A previous episode from an early season of The Simpsons was titled “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” which was a reference to the fictional movie in the film Sullivan’s Travels.
The title “Hot Child in the City” comes from a song by Nicky Gilder.
The title “Do the Bard, Man” is a play on the song “Do the Bartman” and the fact that Shakespeare is also referred to as “the Bard.”
The song “Lady” by the band Styx plays while Homer passes the river Styx, to which Homer remarks “Oh, this truly is Hell!”
When Homer sees the letter about the overdue book, he claims it is “the biggest frame-up since O.J.” He then realizes that the O.J. trial may not have been a frame-up, referring to the blood in the Bronco, the gloves, and the Leno monologues.
Dionysius (Barney)’s reference to Zeus (Mayor Quimby) turning into a cow to pick up chicks is a reference to Zeus’ kidnapping of Europa.
The sirens sing an altered version of the song Copacabana.
Bart makes a reference about Steven Bochco being able to kick Shakespeare's ass.
The line "Now throughout history when people get wood, they'll think of Trojans" is a reference to this brand of condoms.
Bart, as Hamlet, takes a line straight from the play when he states that "The Play's the thing" after which he tells Moe off for hearing his soliloquy.
At the end of the episode, Bart questions how a story (Hamlet) where everyone dies could be so boring. Homer agrees, but says that they made it into a great movie called Ghostbusters. The Simpsons then dance to the Ghostbuster theme song.

[edit] Self-references

There is a first-season Simpsons episode called "Homer’s Odyssey" (only that episode centered on Homer losing his job at the nuclear plant and nearly committing suicide after he can't find work elsewhere, then becoming a safety advocate after saving his family from getting hit by a truck).
God continually mentions that he has at least one organ more than a human, such as three eyes, or five thighs; this is a joking reference to the fact that his physical form in the Simpsons is drawn with five fingers.