Sorry, folks, I can only draw dachshunds with any facility, so Shakespeare can really be said to "go to the dogs" here. The play's full references to dogs anyway...
A group of artisans and merchants wait in Timon's hall, hoping for the patronage of the great man.
When Timon appears, he's mobbed. His friend Ventidius wants money to get out of debtor's prison. Timon gives it to his servant.
An old man complains that Timon's penniless servant is courting his daughter. Timon matches the old man's estate so the lovers may marry.
The only sour note to all this niceness is Apemantus, a churlish philosopher. Timon escapes by inviting the soldier Alcibiades to a banquet.
A great feast is prepared at Timon's house.
Timon presides, giving thanks for his good friends. Apemantus is not amused.
There are dancing girls and the giving of rich gifts.
But Flavius, the steward, bringing a casket of jewels to be given as favours, tells us that Timon's estate is mortgaged to the hilt.
Word gets around that Timon's estate is failing. The creditors want their money.
Finally the steward can hold them off no longer and the creditors begin to hound Timon himself.
At last Timon realizes he is almost bankrupt and sends his servants to ask his friends for money.
Timon even thinks of asking the Senate for 1000 talents but Flavius says not to bother: he's already asked and been turned down.
Timon's servant goes to Lucullus, who thinks the box he carries is a gift. When he finds Timon wants it filled with money, he refuses.
The servant sent to Lucius fares no better: Lucius laments that Timon should have asked sooner. All his money is tied up. Yeah, right.
The servants report that even Ventidius, the man Timon saved from prison, won't help him.
Servants of Timon's creditors lay siege to his house, but they're embarrassed at dunning the man their masters took so much from.
Timon's temper snaps. He invites all of his "friends" and creditors to a feast.
In another kind of ingratitude, the Senate refuses Alcibiades' plea for a friend's life.
The Senate condemns the man. When Alcibiades objects, they banish him!
The creditors and "friends" attend Timon's banquet. He says a most unusual grace.
He uncovers the dishes which hold only water. Timon throws it at them and drives them out of his house.
Timon leaves Athens, cursing the city and everyone in it.
Flavius discharges Timon's servants, who agree Timon was badly used. Flavius goes after Timon.
Timon finds a cave in the woods. Determined to find roots, all he finds is gold.
Alcibiades, on his way to attack Athens, drops in on Timon. Timon wishes him luck and gives him gold.
He gives Alcibiades' two girlfriends gold too.
Timon digs and finds a root.
Apemantus, the churlish philosopher and grouch, visits Timon, apparently jealous. They hurl insults and rocks at each other.
Word of Timon's gold spreads. Three bandits come for the gold. Timon gives it to them — he doesn't want it!
Faithful Flavius finds Timon, who is touched by his devotion. Timon gives Flavius gold and sends him away.
The poet and painter from Act I have heard about the gold. They arrive to sell Timon art, but he drives them away.
The Senate petitions Timon to lead their army against Alcibiades. Timon says he'll never leave the woods, let alone defend Athens.
Alcibiades sends a messenger to find Timon, but all the man finds is a stone. Illiterate, he makes a wax impression of the stone's inscription.
Alcibiades and his army reach Athens. Hoping to avoid wholesale slaughter, the Senators surrender. Alcibiades says he'll only punish his and Timon's enemies.
The messenger arrives with the wax impression: it's Timon's epitaph. The memory of the man Timon once was moves Alcibiades to enter Athens peacefully.
THE END
I do these cartoon versions of Shakespearean plays prior to taking my own students to see live theatre. The cartoons give them an idea of the plot of the play so they don't feel lost. After 10 minutes or so, the students catch on, enjoy the play, and my job of supervision becomes much easier.
Sorry I can't put the "mainstream" plays (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar et al) on the Web. They are copyright to J. Weston Walch, Publisher and are available in SHAKESPEARE MADE EASY: AN ILLUSTRATED APPROACH.
Some other sites you might like to visit:
Mr William Shakespeare and the Internet
The Dachshund Circus
Dachshund Delights Badger Burrow
Bard on the Beach
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival
This site was prepared with help from Bill Kempthorne, Colin Welch, and Dale Halcrow, the Principal, who tolerates my obsessions. All I do is the dachshund and Shakespeare parts. I hope it helps you and your students or children to enjoy the Bard as much as I do.