The Fox and the Farmer’s Lesson
Once upon a time, a fox lived near a small village. He was sly and always looking for a
shortcut to success. In the same village lived a hardworking farmer who woke up at the
crack of dawn every day to tend to his fields.
One afternoon, while the farmer was taking a short nap under a tree, the fox crept into his
barn. “Well,” said the fox, rubbing his paws, “this is my lucky day!” He began filling a basket
with eggs and corn.
But as he tiptoed away, the farmer’s dog barked loudly. The fox panicked and ran, spilling
the eggs all over the ground. When the farmer arrived, he caught the fox by the tail.
“Fox,” said the farmer, “you’re always trying to cut corners, but hard work pays off in the
end.” The fox bowed his head. “I thought I could get rich overnight,” he said. The farmer
smiled kindly. “Every dog has its day, but today is not yours. Go, and remember—you reap
what you sow.”
Ashamed, the fox returned to his den, realizing that clever tricks may bring quick gain, but
honest effort brings true reward.
Moral of the Story
Taking the easy way out often leads to trouble. Hard work and honesty bring real success.
Comprehension and Analysis Questions
1. 1. Genre Identification
• What type of story is this?
Answer: ____________________________________________
• What features of this genre can you find in the text? (Think about the characters, moral,
and tone.)
Answer: ____________________________________________
• What lesson does the fable teach?
Answer: ____________________________________________
2.
2. Point of View
• From what point of view is the story told (first person, second person, or third person)?
Answer: ____________________________________________
• How do you know? Provide a sentence from the text that shows this point of view.
Answer: ____________________________________________
3.
3. Figurative and Idiomatic Language
• Identify one idiom in the story that is not used as a simile.
Idiom: ____________________________________________
Meaning: ____________________________________________
4.
4. Figurative Descriptions
• Find one example of figurative language (like metaphor or personification) that helps you
imagine the scene or characters.
Phrase: ____________________________________________
Meaning: ____________________________________________
5.
5. Reflection
• How does the fox’s attitude change from the beginning to the end of the story?
Answer: ____________________________________________
• What can you personally learn from the farmer’s advice?
Answer: ____________________________________________