THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
by Lida B. McMurry
Adapted Version
Once there was a fast Hare. There was a slow Tortoise. Hare saw Tortoise. Hare said, "You are slow!" He ran fast. He laughed at Tortoise. "You move like a snail!" Hare said.
Tortoise said, "Let us race to the tree." Hare laughed loudly. "You are so slow," Hare said. "You cannot win," Hare said. "I will race you." Tortoise was ready.
Hare saw his friend Fox. "Tortoise wants to race me," Hare said. Hare laughed and laughed. Fox heard about the race. "I can be the judge," Fox said. "That is a good idea," Hare said. "I will mark the start," Fox said. "I will mark the finish," Fox said. Hare was very happy.
Fox marked the start line. Fox marked the big tree. This was the finish line. Hare stood at the start. Tortoise stood at the start. Fox said, "Ready, set, go!" Race began. They started to run.
Hare ran very, very fast. He jumped and ran quickly. Hare was far ahead of Tortoise. Tortoise was very far behind. Hare thought, "I am fast. Tortoise is slow. Sleep now." Hare lay in green grass. He closed his eyes. Hare took a long nap. He slept deeply and long.
Tortoise walked slowly. He did not run at all. He did not stop for a rest. Tortoise walked step by step. He kept going forward. He walked to the big tree. He walked to the finish line. Tortoise moved slowly, slowly, slowly. He did not look back. He just kept moving.
Tortoise walked and walked. He saw Hare sleeping. Hare was in the green grass. Hare slept very soundly. Tortoise walked past the sleeping Hare. He did not stop at all. Tortoise kept going forward. He was very quiet.
Tortoise kept walking. He walked and walked. He reached the big tree. He was at the finish line. Tortoise was at the goal. He won the race! What a surprise!
Hare woke up. He stretched his long legs. Hare ran very, very fast. He ran to the finish line. Hare saw Tortoise already there. Tortoise was at the big tree. Hare was very surprised. "How did you win?" Hare asked.
Tortoise said, "Slow and steady wins the race." The Tortoise won the race. He showed that slow and steady wins!
Original Story
THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
"Why do you move along so slowly?" said a hare to a tortoise. "Let me show you how to get over the ground."
"You think I am slow, do you?" replied the tortoise. "Let us run a race to the cross-roads. I think I can beat you."
"Do you hear that?" said the hare to a fox, who was standing near. "Could anyone even think that such a slow-coach could beat me in a race?"
"It would be a good joke if he did," said the fox. "Do you wish to run a race? I will be the judge, if you care to have me."
"That suits me well," answered the hare.
"I am willing," said the tortoise.
So the fox marked off a place for starting, and set up a stake at the goal.
The hare and the tortoise stood side by side, and at the command, "Go!", from the fox, they began the race.
The hare bounded along and was very soon far ahead of the tortoise. He called back to the fox, "I think I shall take a little nap before I finish the race; the tortoise will not reach here for an hour or more." So he lay down in some bushes and went to sleep.
Every minute brought the tortoise a little nearer to the goal. He did not stop for a second.
At last he passed the hare, but the hare still slept. On and on he plodded; it was a long way, but he had no thought of stopping.
He came nearer and nearer the goal. At last his foot touched the stake.
The hare wakened, stretched himself, and leaped toward the goal. "What, you here!" he cried when he saw the tortoise. "How did you ever reach here?"
"Just by keeping at it," said the tortoise.
Moral of the Story
Slow and steady wins the race, and overconfidence can lead to failure.
Characters
The Hare ⚔ antagonist
A lean, agile hare, about 2 feet tall when standing on hind legs, with powerful hindquarters built for speed. His fur is a mottled brown and grey, blending well with dry grass and brush. He has long, muscular legs and large, sensitive ears that twitch constantly.
Attire: None, as he is an animal. His natural fur coat is his only covering.
Wants: To prove his inherent superiority and speed over others, particularly the tortoise, and to maintain his reputation as the fastest creature.
Flaw: Overconfidence and complacency, leading him to underestimate his opponent and neglect the race.
He experiences a humbling defeat, learning (or at least being shown) that natural talent without effort can be overcome by steady perseverance.
Arrogant, overconfident, boastful, lazy, and dismissive of others' abilities.
The Tortoise ★ protagonist
A sturdy, ancient-looking tortoise, about 1.5 feet long, with a high-domed, dark green-brown shell that is worn smooth in places. His skin is leathery and wrinkled, a mottled grey-green, especially around his neck and legs. His legs are thick and columnar, ending in blunt claws.
Attire: None, as he is an animal. His natural shell is his only covering.
Wants: To prove that steady effort and perseverance can overcome natural talent and arrogance, and to challenge the Hare's dismissive attitude.
Flaw: His inherent slowness, which makes him an underdog in any race.
He achieves an unexpected victory, demonstrating the power of perseverance and proving his worth against a more naturally gifted opponent.
Patient, persistent, humble, determined, and quietly confident.
The Fox ◆ supporting
A sleek, cunning fox, about 2.5 feet tall, with rich reddish-brown fur, a bushy tail tipped with white, and slender, agile limbs. His build suggests both speed and stealth.
Attire: None, as he is an animal. His natural fur coat is his only covering.
Wants: To witness an interesting event and perhaps be entertained by the unexpected. He enjoys the spectacle and the irony of the situation.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but perhaps a tendency to enjoy others' folly.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as an observer and facilitator of the plot. He witnesses the unexpected outcome.
Shrewd, observant, impartial (as a judge), and possessing a dry wit.
Locations
Starting Line in the Meadow
A sun-drenched, open meadow with short, springy grass, where the hare, tortoise, and fox gather. The fox marks a clear starting point on the ground.
Mood: Anticipatory, lighthearted, slightly mocking due to the hare's overconfidence
The challenge is made, the judge is appointed, and the race officially begins.
The Race Path to the Cross-Roads
A long, dusty path winding through a typical temperate forest, leading to a distant cross-roads. The path is wide enough for two to run side-by-side, with varying vegetation along its edges.
Mood: Strenuous for the tortoise, effortless for the hare, a sense of progression
The main action of the race unfolds here, with the hare's initial sprint and the tortoise's steady progress.
Bushes by the Path
A cluster of dense, leafy bushes situated just off the main race path, providing ample shade and concealment. The ground beneath is soft with leaf litter.
Mood: Peaceful, sleepy, a false sense of security
The hare takes his ill-fated nap here, allowing the tortoise to overtake him.
The Cross-Roads Goal
A clear intersection of two dirt paths, marked by a simple wooden stake driven into the ground. The area is open, with the forest receding slightly to allow for the junction.
Mood: Triumphant for the tortoise, shocking for the hare, a sense of finality
The tortoise reaches the goal and wins the race, surprising the hare.
Story DNA
Moral
Slow and steady wins the race, and overconfidence can lead to failure.
Plot Summary
A boastful hare mocks a slow tortoise, leading to a challenge for a race. The hare, confident in his speed, takes a nap mid-race, believing he has ample time. Meanwhile, the tortoise, without stopping, steadily continues and eventually passes the sleeping hare. The tortoise reaches the finish line first, teaching the hare that slow and steady effort can triumph over arrogant, wasted talent.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humiliation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This fable is one of Aesop's most famous, originating in ancient Greece, and has been retold countless times across cultures.
Plot Beats (10)
- A hare mocks a tortoise for being slow.
- The tortoise challenges the hare to a race to the cross-roads, believing he can win.
- The hare, amused, tells a fox about the challenge, and the fox agrees to be the judge.
- The fox marks the start and goal, and the race begins.
- The hare bounds far ahead and, feeling overconfident, decides to take a nap.
- The tortoise, without stopping, continues to move steadily towards the goal.
- The tortoise eventually passes the sleeping hare.
- The tortoise reaches the stake at the goal.
- The hare wakes up, stretches, and leaps towards the goal, only to find the tortoise already there.
- The tortoise explains his victory was due to 'just by keeping at it'.
