The novel begins with a discussion around the dinner table of Mr. Gryll, in which his friend, the genial gourmet, the Rev. Dr. Opimian, holds forth on misnomers, fish, and the contemporary fashion for lectures. Mr. Gryll suggests that they get up an Aristophanic comedy to put on show that Christmas, in which spirit-rappers bring up the shade of his supposed ancestor, Gryllus, to give them his opinion of modern times.