Fables and Themes

*Read the following fables and answer the

questions that follow.

Friday, December 14, 2012

 The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's
content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that
way?" "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the
same." "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present."
But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no
food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain
from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew.

Question: A theme present in this fable is that you should first be prepared then find time to play.

Describe how the the grasshopper illustrated this theme. Cite two pieces of textual evidence for
support.

ANSWER: In the story, the grasshopper illustrates the theme of “First be prepared, then find time
to play.” The Ant is the character who is preparing for the winter by storing up food while the
grasshopper is playing around. The grasshopper says he doesn’t need to worry with winter because he
has enough food right now. However, not thinking about the future harms the grasshopper later when
winter comes and he has run out of food. He sees the ants, who have enough food, and then he realizes
that he should have prepared for winter instead of playing.

Friday, December 14, 2012

 The Hare and the Frogs
The Hares were so persecuted by the other beasts that they did not know where to go. As soon as
they saw a single animal approach them, off they used to run. One day they saw a troop of wild
Horses stampeding about, and in quite a panic all the Hares scuttled off to a nearby lake,
determined to drown themselves rather than live in such a continual state of fear. But just as they
got near the bank of the lake, a troop of Frogs, frightened in their turn by the approach of the Hares
scuttled off, and jumped into the water. "Truly," said one of the Hares, "things are not so bad as
they seem.”

Question: In this fable, the hares were so afraid of other animals that they were willing to die than
to live in a state of fear. After running from a troop of wild horses, they encountered a troop of
frightened frogs near the bank of a lake who jumped in the lake. What does this event teach the
hares? Cite two pieces of textual evidence to support your answer.

ANSWER: Encountering the frogs who jump in the lake out of fear for the hares teaches the hares
that sometimes when things seem horrible, they really aren’t so bad. The hares were so afraid of the
other animals, they couldn’t live with the fear and wanted to die. However, when they saw that smaller
animals like the frogs were scared of them, they realized that their fear of the horses wasn’t really so
bad they needed to drown themselves.

Friday, December 14, 2012

 The Crow and the Pitcher
A CROW perishing with thirst saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water, flew to it with delight.
When he reached it, he discovered to his grief that it contained so little water that he could not
possibly get at it. He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but all his efforts were
in vain. At last he collected as many stones as he could carry and dropped them one by one with
his beak into the pitcher, until he brought the water within his reach and thus saved his life.

Question: A theme presented in this fable is that if at first you don’t succeed, you should try and
try again.

Describe how the crow’s actions in this story illustrate this theme. Cite two pieces of textual
evidence to support your answer.

ANSWER: In the story, the crow’s actions illustrate the theme of “If at first you don’t succeed, try
and try again.” The crow is very thirsty yet cannot reach the small amount of water in the pitcher he
finds. Instead of giving up, he tries everything he could to reach the water. Finally he devises a
solution to drop stones in the water to raise the water level. Then he is able to drink and relieve his
thirst. This shows me that if a first attempt at a goal is not successful, I shouldn’t give up. Instead, I
should find other ways to reach my goal. I should continue trying many times until I finally accomplish
my goal.

Friday, December 14, 2012

 The Fox and the Goat
A FOX one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and
seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise
of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst,
thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme
for their common escape. “If,” said he, “you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and
escape, and will help you out afterwards.” The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with
the Goat’s horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for
breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, “You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have
hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers
from which you had no means of escape.”

Question: A theme presented in this story is that you should think things through before making a decision. Don’t be impulsive.

Which event in the story caused the goat to learn this lesson? Explain your response.

ANSWER: The goat learns the lesson of “Think things through before making a decision” at the
end when the fox leaps upon his back and escapes the well while leaving the goat trapped inside. The
goat was more focused on his thirst than he was on the dangers of jumping into the well. When the fox
suggested the goat help him escape, the goat didn’t think of what would happen to him after the goat
escaped. The goat didn’t think ahead at all, and he didn’t realize the dangers of this until he was left all
alone in the well after the fox escaped.

Friday, December 14, 2012

 The Goose with the Golden Egg
One day a monkey went to the nest of his Goose and found there an egg all yellow and
glittering. When he took it up it was as heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because
he thought a trick had been played upon him. But, on second thought, he took it home and soon
found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing occurred, and
he soon became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at
once all the gold the Goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find nothing.

Question: In this fable, the monkey becomes very greedy with his unique goose. How does the
monkey’s greed eventually lead him to negative consequences?

Answer: In this fable, the monkey’s greed leads him to negative consequences. In the story, the
monkey becomes rich by selling the golden eggs he stole from a goose. He is so excited about his
riches, he decides to kill the goose to steal all its golden riches. However, when he opens the goose,
there is nothing there. This shows me that greed leads to negative consequences and destruction
because the monkey’s greed led him to kill the innocent goose, and he gained nothing.

Friday, December 14, 2012