The Fox and the Grapes
Based on a fable by Aesop · Adapted for children by YouAndWorld
One warm afternoon, a hungry fox was walking through the countryside in search of food.
After a long time, he noticed a beautiful bunch of purple grapes hanging from a vine above him.
The grapes looked fresh, sweet, and juicy.
— Those grapes will make a perfect meal, — said the fox.
He stepped back, ran forward, and jumped as high as he could.
But the grapes were too high.
The fox tried again. He jumped with all his strength, but he still could not reach them.
He moved farther away, ran faster, and made another great leap.
Once again, he missed.
The fox continued trying. He jumped from one side, then from the other. He stretched his paws and lifted his nose, but the grapes remained out of reach.
At last, the tired fox stopped beneath the vine.
He looked up at the grapes and said:
— I did not want them anyway. They are probably sour.
Then he turned around and walked away, pretending that the grapes had never interested him.
But deep inside, the fox knew that he had only called them sour because he could not reach them.
Moral of the Story
People sometimes criticize what they cannot obtain instead of honestly admitting their disappointment.
Questions to Discuss
- Why did the fox want the grapes?
- What did the fox do when he could not reach them?
- Were the grapes really sour?
- Why did the fox pretend that he did not want them?
- What is a better way to respond when we cannot get something we want?
Video
The Ant and the Grasshopper
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