A mighty tiger once greedily choked on a large bone while devouring his prey. In excruciating pain, he begged the forest animals for help, promising a great reward to anyone who could remove the obstruction. A brave woodpecker, moved by pity, agreed to help. The bird used a small stick to keep the tiger's jaws propped open and hopped inside to pluck the bone from the tiger's throat. Once the tiger was relieved, the woodpecker later asked for the promised reward. The tiger roared fiercely, 'You have already received your reward! You put your head inside a tiger's mouth and lived to tell the tale. Is that not enough?' The woodpecker realized that seeking gratitude from the wicked was a fool's errand and flew away, vowing never to help the ungrateful beast again.
Do not expect gratitude or rewards when serving the wicked or the ungrateful.
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Questions about this story
What is the moral of The Tiger and the Woodpecker?
The moral is that one should not expect a reward or gratitude when helping those who are naturally cruel or ungrateful. It teaches us to be cautious about who we choose to assist.
Why did the woodpecker help the tiger?
The woodpecker was moved by the tiger's apparent suffering and the promise of a reward. Despite the risk, the bird chose to act out of compassion and the hope of a fair return for its service.
How did the tiger respond to the woodpecker's request for a reward?
The tiger responded with a threat, claiming that the bird's reward was simply being allowed to leave his mouth alive. He showed no real gratitude for the life-saving help he received.
Is The Tiger and the Woodpecker similar to Aesop's Fables?
Yes, this story is very similar to Aesop's fable 'The Wolf and the Crane.' Both stories share the same core lesson about the dangers of expecting gratitude from predators.
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