Chapter 2: The Raven and the Fox
In this fable poem by Jean de La Fontaine, a clever fox uses sweet words to trick a proud raven. Read the poem in your Poorvi book, then use these topics to understand it, explore its rhymes and alliteration, and retell it in your own way.
In this chapter you will
- understand the poem stanza by stanza
- explain flattery and why pride is unwise
- find rhyming words, alliteration and opposites
- retell the poem as a story and a conversation
Topics
- Read: The Poem NCERT pp. 13–14
The Fox flatters the Raven into singing, and the Raven drops his food.
- Think and Reflect NCERT pp. 15–16
Flattery is too much praise used to get something; the Fox flattered the Raven.
- Words: Rhyme, Alliteration and Opposites NCERT pp. 15–17
Rhyming words end with the same sound; alliteration repeats the starting consonant sound.
- Speak and Write NCERT pp. 18–19
Retell a poem as a story using time words: one day, then, suddenly, finally.
Key words
- Fable
- a short story, often with animals, that teaches a lesson
- Perched
- sat on a branch
- Morsel
- a small piece of food
- Flattery
- too much praise, often to get something
- Rhyme
- words ending with the same sound
- Alliteration
- words close together starting with the same sound
Summary
- The Fox flatters the Raven, who opens his beak to sing and drops his food.
- Lesson: ignore sweet words that feed your pride; pride is unwise.
- The poem uses rhyme (sing–king) and alliteration (big beak).
- You can retell a poem as a story or a conversation with actions.