A crow found a piece of cheese and flew up to a branch to enjoy it.
A fox was passing below. He smelled the cheese and sat down under the tree. He wanted that cheese, and he had a plan.
"Good morning, beautiful bird," he called. "What shining feathers you have! What bright eyes! If your voice is as lovely as the rest of you, you must be the queen of all the birds."
The crow lifted her head with pride. Nobody had ever spoken to her so nicely. She wanted to show the fox her wonderful voice.
She opened her beak to sing. "Caw!"
Down fell the cheese, straight into the fox's mouth.
"Thank you," said the fox, licking his lips. "You do have a voice. What you need now is some sense."
Do not trust those who flatter you.
Discussion questions
- Why does the Fox say such nice things to the Crow?
- What mistake does the Crow make?
- How can we tell a true compliment from flattery?
Questions about this fable
What is the moral of The Fox and the Crow?
The moral is to beware of flattery. It teaches that those who praise you excessively often have a hidden agenda or want something from you.
Who wrote The Fox and the Crow?
The story is credited to Aesop, an ancient Greek storyteller. It has been retold for centuries by various authors, including Jean de La Fontaine.
Why did the Fox praise the Crow?
The Fox praised the Crow to appeal to her vanity. He knew that if she felt proud enough, she would try to show off and drop the cheese.
What does the cheese symbolize in the story?
The cheese symbolizes a hard-earned prize or a valuable possession. It represents how easily we can lose what we have if we are distracted by pride.
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Good night.
Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane
