Who Was Aesop?

Aesop was a Greek story teller who lived around

600 BC and is thought to have written a series of
fables we now know as “Aesop’s Fables”. Actual facts
and details about his life are unavailable. All we know
about Aesop has been gathered from ancient sources
such as writings from Aristotle and Plutarch.

An ancient text describes him as being a slave

who has some physical deformities and who was very
clever. They say he acquired his freedom because of
his ability to read and tell stories. He then became an
advisor to kings. He traveled giving governments advice
and on one such mission angered some people by
telling them fables that insulted them. Legend says
that these angry people condemned him to death.

Some people argue that Aesop didn’t create or think up these fables all by himself but merely
wrote them all down in one collection. Some historians argue whether Aesop was even a real person
or whether it was a pseudonym used by another writer. These fables were edited, revised, and
translated through the centuries and now the current body of fables sound very different than the
ones Aesop originally told. In fact, no original writings by Aesop have survived through time.

Aesop is credited with creating and telling more than 600 fables. Aesop’s fables are known for
being short stories that teach a moral or lesson. The fables use animals who exhibit human qualities
and traits to teach a bit of wisdom. The animals in his fables keep their animal characteristics:
tortoises are slow, foxes are keen, hares are quick, and predatory animals still eat the little guys. Many
common phrases came from his fables. Some examples of these famous phrases include “Don’t count
your chickens before they hatch”, “sour grapes”, and “look before you leap.”

Although historians are unsure whether Aesop really existed, his collection of fables have been
well-loved for literally thousands of years. When we read his fables, we can find bits of wisdom and
advice and then apply them to our own lives.

© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl

 The Fox
and
The Crow

© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl

 The Fox and The Crow

One warm summer day, a sly fox

creeped through the forest searching for
something to eat. He sniffed the air carefully.
“I smell my favorite snack of all! Cheese!” he
said gleefully. As he followed the smell, he
looked up into a tall gnarly tree and spied an
old black crow holding a piece of yellow
cheese in her beak.

“Hello Crow!” called Fox, sitting down on

his haunches. “I’ve been walking through the
forest and have seen many birds, but none
have been so beautiful as you.” Crow cocked
her head toward fox with interest. “Your
feathers are so jet black it reminds of the
deepest night. Your feet are so tiny and delicate. Your beak so sharp and shining. I’ve truly
never seen such a fine specimen before in my whole life.” Crow fluffed her feathers
proudly and hopped towards fox so she wouldn’t miss a word of his praise.

“I wonder if it could be possible for a bird as beautiful as you to sing beautifully as

well? If that was so, you may be called ‘Queen’ of the Birds’. All would know you as the
most talented and beautiful of all birds.”

As fox let these last words fall from his sly mouth, Crow puffed up her chest and
began to sing. Unfortunately, as soon as she opened her beak, the bit of cheese
plummeted to the ground and was snatched up by the clever fox. “Caw! Caw! Caw!” sang
crow boastfully.

When Crow saw Fox eat up the cheese, she became angry. “That’s MY cheese!” She
cawed. “You were so busy listening to pretend compliments, you forgot to use your brains!”
scoffed the fox.

Moral: Beware of False Flatterers.

© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl

 The Fox and The Crow
As originally told
by Aesop
This version is in the public domain.

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its
beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "That's for me, as I am a
Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the
tree. "Good-day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are
looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I
feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as
your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may
greet you as the Queen of Birds." The Crow lifted up her head and
began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the
piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by
Master Fox. "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In
exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the
future:

“Do not trust flatterers."

© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl

 Name:____________________________________

Comprehension Questions for

The Fox and The Crow

Who are the main characters?:____________________________________________

What is the setting?:___________________________________________________

How did fox get crow to drop the cheese?: _____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

What is the lesson that this fable teaches?:____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

How do you think you can apply this lesson in your own life?:_________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Why do you think Aesop chose to teach this lesson through a story?:____________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl

Reader’s Theater The Fox and The Crow
Characters: Narrator, Fox, and Crow

Narrator’s Script
Narrator: Fox was a clever and sly creature looking for dinner.

Fox: I smell cheese! Oh how wonderful it would be to eat a dinner of soft flavorful cheese! Where is that
delicious smell coming from?

Narrator: Fox looked up into a great big willow tree and saw a black crow perched on a branch with a
chunk of yellow cheese in his sharp beak.

Fox: Hello Crow! Why, I do believe you are the most beautiful crow I have ever seen. Nay! You are the most
beautiful bird I have ever laid eyes on!

Narrator: The crow was usually a sensible soul, but these words made crow pay attention.

Fox: Your beautiful black feathers are so shiny and sleek! Your eyes so bright and alert! I must tell my
friends to come and look upon you as well!

Narrator: The crow tilted his head to get a better look at the fox who praised him so well. Crow fluffed
his feathers and puffed out his chest to further impress Fox.

Fox: I only dare and hope and wonder if such a beautiful bird also has a beautiful singing voice. No, it
cannot be possible!

Narrator: The crow wasn’t thinking straight. He only thought to gain more of Fox’s pleasure.

Fox: Come now, give me your silkiest song!

Crow: Caw, Caw, Caaaaaawwwww!!! Oh! Oh, no!

Narrator: As Crow opened his beak to sing for Fox, the cheese fell out of his beak and fell right into
Fox’s opened mouth.

Fox: Ah, thank you crow! That cheese was delicious!

Narrator: The moral of this sad hungry tale is to beware of false flatterers!

© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl

Fox smelled and wanted the cheese that
belonged to crow.

Fox flattered crow and convinced her to

sing.

When crow opened her mouth to sing,

the cheese fell out.

Fox ate the cheese.

© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl

 Name:______________________________

Fox’s Character Traits

Fill in the bubbles with

Fox’s character traits.

Vocabulary Words
From The Fox and The Crow
Sly:_______________________________________________________________________

Gleefully:__________________________________________________________________

Gnarly:____________________________________________________________________

Haunches:_________________________________________________________________

Cocked:___________________________________________________________________

Plummeted:_______________________________________________________________
© 2020 Simply Schoolgirl