Hinglish

Read: The Poem

Class 6 English · Chapter 2: The Raven and the Fox · NCERT Poorvi section pp. 13–14

Learn

Before you read: frogs croak, but did you know ravens croak too? And in many stories, which animal is shown as cunning? Yes, the fox! This poem is a fable: a short story, often with animals, that teaches a lesson. It was written by the French writer Jean de La Fontaine.

Stanza 1: Mr Raven is perched on a branch with a tasty morsel (a small piece of food) in his big beak. Below, Reynard the Fox looks up and wants that food badly.

Stanza 2: The Fox speaks in admiring tones. He calls the Raven a handsome bird, praises his feathers, and says that if only he would sing, the birds of the woods would call him King.

Stanza 3: The Raven doesn't see the trick. Full of foolish pride, he forgets that his voice is just a croak, opens his beak to sing, and down falls the morsel. Stanza 4: The Fox laughs, eats the food, and gives him a lesson: ignore sweet words that make you feel too good about yourself, because pride is unwise.

Explore: put the poem's events in order.

  1. Put the five events in order.

Remember

  • The Fox flatters the Raven into singing, and the Raven drops his food.
  • A fable is a short story, often with animals, that teaches a lesson.

Quick check

Why did the Raven open his beak?

  1. To sing, because the Fox praised him
  2. To eat the food
  3. To call his friends
  4. To yawn
Answer

To sing, because the Fox praised him. Flattery made him forget the food in his beak.

Think about it

The Fox says the lesson is "quite a surprise". Why might the Raven be surprised?

One answer

He expected praise and a kingly title, but instead he lost his food and was laughed at. He learnt that kind-sounding words can hide a selfish purpose.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.