THE LARK and THE FARMER
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
A Mother Lark lived in a tall cornfield. Her little babies were in a nest. The corn grew very tall. The corn turned yellow. It was a safe home for them. The Little Larks were very small. They could not fly yet. Mother Lark watched her babies.
One day, the Farmer came to the field. He looked at his corn. The corn was very yellow. "It is ready!" he said. "I must cut this corn." He thought friends. "I will ask friends for help," he said. "They can help me cut the corn now. I will send word to them."
A Little Lark heard the Farmer. She was very scared. "Mother! Mother!" she cried. "The Farmer will cut the corn! We must move now!" The Little Lark shook. She looked at her Mother Lark. "Let's leave our home!" she said.
Mother Lark was calm. "Do not worry, my child," she said. "The Farmer will wait for his friends. Friends are often busy. They may not come quickly. He will not cut the corn fast. He will take his time. We do not need to move yet. We are safe here."
A few days passed. The Farmer came back. He looked at the corn again. The corn was very, very yellow. Some corn fell to the ground. The corn was too ripe. He shook his head slowly. He was not happy.
"My friends did not come," he said. "I waited too long. I cannot wait more. I will not ask for help now. I will hire men myself. They will start work today. Yes, I will do it myself." He was firm.
Mother Lark heard the Farmer. She knew it was time. "Come, my Little Larks!" she said. "We must fly away now. The Farmer will not wait. He will do the work himself. He will not ask for help again. We must go now!" Larks flew home. It is good to do things yourself.
Original Story
THE LARK AND THE FARMER
A Lark nested in a field of corn, and was rearing her brood under cover of the ripening grain. One day, before the young were fully fledged, the Farmer came to look at the crop, and, finding it yellowing fast, he said, "I must send round word to my neighbours to come and help me reap this field." One of the young Larks overheard him, and was very much frightened, and asked her mother whether they hadn't better move house at once. "There's no hurry," replied she; "a man who looks to his friends for help will take his time about a thing." In a few days the Farmer came by again, and saw that the grain was overripe and falling out of the ears upon the ground. "I must put it off no longer," he said; "This very day I'll hire the men and set them to work at once." The Lark heard him and said to her young, "Come, my children, we must be off: he talks no more of his friends now, but is going to take things in hand himself."
Self-help is the best help.
Story DNA
Moral
Self-help is the best help.
Plot Summary
A family of Larks nests in a cornfield. When the Farmer first plans to harvest by asking neighbors for help, the mother Lark advises her fearful young not to worry, knowing reliance on others often leads to delay. Later, when the Farmer sees the corn is overripe and declares he will hire men and take action himself, the wise mother Lark immediately recognizes the true danger and moves her family, illustrating that self-help is the most effective help.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anxiety to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are ancient Greek stories often featuring anthropomorphic animals to convey moral lessons, reflecting common human behaviors and societal norms of the time.
Plot Beats (7)
- A Lark has nested her brood in a field of corn that is ripening.
- The Farmer inspects his field and decides the corn is ready, planning to ask his neighbors for help with the harvest.
- A young Lark overhears the Farmer's plan and becomes frightened, suggesting they move.
- The mother Lark reassures her young, stating that a man relying on others will take his time.
- A few days later, the Farmer returns to find the grain overripe and falling.
- The Farmer declares he will no longer delay and will hire men himself to start work immediately.
- The mother Lark, hearing this, tells her young that it is now truly time to leave, as the Farmer is taking matters into his own hands.
Characters
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The Mother Lark
A small, slender bird, about 6-7 inches long, with a delicate build. Her plumage is a mottled brown and buff, providing excellent camouflage against dry grass and soil. Her wings are broad and rounded, suited for short, powerful flights.
Attire: Natural plumage of mottled brown and buff feathers, with lighter underparts and darker streaks on her back and wings. Her crest is a slightly darker brown.
Wants: To protect her children and ensure their survival by finding a safe home.
Flaw: Her small size and vulnerability to predators and human activity, making her reliant on her wits and timing.
She begins as a watchful mother, using her wisdom to delay unnecessary action. She learns to trust her own judgment over the perceived threats, ultimately making a timely and decisive move to ensure her family's safety.
Wise, observant, cautious, and pragmatic. She is a devoted mother who prioritizes the safety and well-being of her young.
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The Young Larks
Small, downy nestlings, not yet fully fledged, with soft, sparse feathers that are a lighter, fluffier version of their mother's mottled brown and buff. Their bodies are plump and their wings are underdeveloped.
Attire: Soft, downy, light brown and buff feathers, not yet fully formed for flight.
Wants: To stay safe and follow their mother's guidance.
Flaw: Their immaturity, inability to fly, and lack of understanding of the world, making them vulnerable.
They begin as frightened and naive nestlings. Through their mother's guidance, they learn to discern true threats and the importance of self-reliance, maturing slightly by the end of the story.
Fearful, impressionable, and reliant on their mother. They are quick to panic but also quick to learn from her wisdom.
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The Farmer
A sturdy, weathered man of average height, with a strong build from years of working the land. His hands are calloused, and his face shows the effects of sun and wind exposure.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing suitable for agricultural work in a European setting. He wears a sturdy, earth-toned linen tunic or shirt, possibly with rolled-up sleeves, and rough wool trousers. His footwear would be practical leather boots or sturdy clogs, covered in dust and soil. He might wear a wide-brimmed straw hat to protect from the sun.
Wants: To harvest his cornfield efficiently and on time to prevent loss.
Flaw: His initial reliance on the help of others, leading to procrastination and potential loss.
He begins by relying on the promise of help from neighbors, which proves unreliable. He learns the lesson of self-reliance, ultimately deciding to take matters into his own hands, leading to the successful harvest (implied) and the larks' departure.
Diligent, practical, initially reliant on others, but ultimately self-reliant. He is focused on his harvest and pragmatic in his approach.
Locations
Cornfield
A vast field of ripening corn, initially yellowing, then becoming overripe with grain falling from the ears onto the ground. It provides cover for the lark's nest.
Mood: Initially peaceful and safe, later becoming urgent and exposed.
The larks live here, and the farmer inspects his crop, making plans for harvest, which drives the larks' decision to move.
Lark's Nest
A small, concealed nest woven into the base of the corn stalks, providing shelter for the mother lark and her unfledged brood.
Mood: Cozy, secure, but increasingly anxious.
The young larks overhear the farmer's plans from within the nest, leading to their discussions with their mother about moving.