To point Gargantua in the right direction, Ponocrates first requests the physician Seraphin Calobarsy for a cleansing potion that will also erase his previous education from Gargantua’s mind. He then designs a curriculum in which Gargantua utilizes all his time in physical exercise and learning the scriptures, languages, and musical instruments.

On rainy days, Gargantua attends lectures and visits various guilds to see how artifacts are made, instead of wasting time.

Some shepherds guarding vineyards in Gargantua’s lands ask bakers from Lerne carrying fouaces (an airy flatbread) for some bread. The bakers refuse and insult the shepherds, hitting one of them. The shepherds attack the bakers and seize their bread.