Fables are usually no longer than one Page. In the fables animals are personified. They behave as though they were human beings. They have a moral.
The Fox and the Grapes (by Aesop)
One afternoon a fox was walking through the forest. His eyes eagerly hung on the thick, blue, overripe grapes.
Carefully, he peered in all directions. Then he leaned his front paws against the trunk, stretched his body strong and wanted to catch up a few grapes with the mouth. But they hung too high.
A little angry he tried his luck again but still failed. A third time he tried, and jumped with all his might. He jumped so high he, but not a leaf had moved.
Finally giving up, the fox turned his nose and said, “They´re probably sour anyway,” and proceeded to walk away.
Moral: It´s easy to despise what you cannot have.
By students from Dunston Primary:
Der Hase und die Schildkroete! (Aesop Fabel)
Der Hase trifft seine Tierfreunde im Wald und pralt vor allen; "Ich bin der Schnellste, wer will mit mir ein Wettrennen machen"? Die Tiere sehen sich gegenseitig an und schuetteln den Kopf, nur die Schildkroete ruft:"Ich laufe ein Rennen mit dir" "Gut dann lass uns anfangen", sagt die Schildkroete. "AUF DIE PLAETZE FERTIG LOS" und der Hase rennt so schnell wie er kann. Ploetzlich dreht er sich um und sieht das die Schildkroete ganz langsam ist und denkt 'Ich habe Zeit mich auszuruhen, denn die Schildkroete holt mich nicht ein'! Der Hase schlaeft ein. Die Schildkroete ueberholt den Hasen und ist schon fast am Ziel wenn der Hase aufwacht. "Nein, nein das glaub ich nicht", ruft der Hase ganz verzweifelt. Er kommt zu spaet und hat verloren!!!
Die Moral der Fabel ist: Schlaues Denken gewinnt das Rennen!
By students from Siegerland - Grundschule:
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." Look before you leap.
Fables are usually no longer than one Page. In the fables animals are personified. They behave as though they were human beings. They have a moral.
The Fox and the Grapes (by Aesop)
One afternoon a fox was walking through the forest. His eyes eagerly hung on the thick, blue, overripe grapes.
Carefully, he peered in all directions. Then he leaned his front paws against the trunk, stretched his body strong and wanted to catch up a few grapes with the mouth. But they hung too high.
A little angry he tried his luck again but still failed. A third time he tried, and jumped with all his might. He jumped so high he, but not a leaf had moved.
Finally giving up, the fox turned his nose and said, “They´re probably sour anyway,” and proceeded to walk away.
Moral: It´s easy to despise what you cannot have.
Der Hase und die Schildkroete! (Aesop Fabel)
Der Hase trifft seine Tierfreunde im Wald und pralt vor allen; "Ich bin der Schnellste, wer will mit mir ein Wettrennen machen"?
Die Tiere sehen sich gegenseitig an und schuetteln den Kopf, nur die Schildkroete ruft:"Ich laufe ein Rennen mit dir"
"Gut dann lass uns anfangen", sagt die Schildkroete.
"AUF DIE PLAETZE FERTIG LOS" und der Hase rennt so schnell wie er kann.
Ploetzlich dreht er sich um und sieht das die Schildkroete ganz langsam ist und denkt 'Ich habe Zeit mich auszuruhen, denn die Schildkroete holt mich nicht ein'! Der Hase schlaeft ein. Die Schildkroete ueberholt den Hasen und ist schon fast am Ziel wenn der Hase aufwacht. "Nein, nein das glaub ich nicht", ruft der Hase ganz verzweifelt. Er kommt zu spaet und hat verloren!!!
Die Moral der Fabel ist: Schlaues Denken gewinnt das Rennen!
By students from Siegerland - Grundschule:
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." Look before you leap.