The Fox and the Grapes
On a hot summer's day a thirsty Fox finds a bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine on a high branch. He jumps again and again but cannot reach them, so he walks away with his nose in the air, saying they must be sour.
Scene 1: A Hot Summer Day
The Fox and the Grapes. One hot summer’s day, a Fox was strolling through an orchard. He came to a bunch of grapes, just ripening on a vine. The vine had been trained over a high branch, so the grapes hung far above his head.
Scene 2: Just the Thing!
The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox’s mouth watered. The Fox said: “Just the thing to quench my thirst!” He drew back a few steps. Then he took a run and a jump… …and just missed the bunch.
Scene 3: One, Two, Three!
The Fox turned round again and counted: “One, two, three!” He jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried, but the grapes were just out of reach.
Scene 4: Sour Grapes
At last, the Fox had to give it up. He walked away with his nose in the air, saying: “I am sure they are sour.” It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
Moral: It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
Questions about The Fox and the Grapes
What kind of day was it when the Fox went strolling?
A hot summer’s day.
Where were the grapes hanging?
On a vine over a high branch.
Why did the Fox want the grapes?
To quench his thirst.
What did the Fox count before he jumped again?
“One, two, three!”.
What did the Fox say as he walked away?
“I am sure they are sour.”.
More stories to read aloud
- The Lion and the Mouse — A Lion catches a little Mouse but laughs and lets her go when she promises to repay him.
- The Hare and the Tortoise — A boastful Hare laughs at the slow Tortoise, so the Tortoise challenges him to a race.
- Belling the Cat — The Mice hold a council and a young Mouse has a clever plan: hang a bell about the Cat’s neck.