FABLE LXX
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once there was a fox. He loved grapes very much.
Fox saw some Grapes. The Grapes hung high. They hung on a vine. The Grapes looked very good. Fox liked Grapes a lot. He wanted to eat them. The Grapes were big and purple. They looked sweet. Fox saw the Grapes. He wanted them.
Fox looked at the Grapes. He wanted them much. He wanted to taste them now. His mouth felt wet. He thought, "I must have Grapes." He wanted them. He felt a strong wish.
Fox said, "I want Grapes." He must eat. He would get them now. He really wanted those Grapes. He felt very hungry for them. He must have them. He must eat them.
Fox jumped up. He jumped very high. He tried to reach the Grapes. But he could not reach them. The Grapes were too high for him. He jumped again. Still, he could not reach. He jumped with all his power. He could not get them.
Fox did not stop. He jumped and jumped. He leaped and leaped. He tried many times. He wanted the Grapes very much. He jumped again and again. He jumped with all his might. He tried so hard to reach. But the Grapes stayed high. He kept jumping.
Fox got very tired. He stopped jumping. He sat down to rest. He was so tired now. He looked at the Grapes. His jumps were no good. He could not get them. All his work was for nothing. He could not reach.
Fox said, "Oh, Grapes." They are not good. They are very sour. "They are not sweet," he said. He said, "I do not want sour Grapes." He thought they were bad. He did not like them.
Fox stood up. He walked away. He left the Grapes there. He said, "Let others take them." He left them. He walked far away. He left the sour Grapes. He went to find other food.
So, the fox walked away. He said the grapes were bad. But maybe he just could not reach them. Sometimes, we want things we cannot have.
Original Story
FABLE LXX.
THE FOX AND THE GRAPES.
In days of yore, when a young Fox would take more pains to get a bunch of grapes than a plump, fat goose, an arch young thief cast his eyes on a fine bunch which hung on the top of a poor man's vine, and made him lick his lips like a hound at the sight of a joint of meat. "Oh," said he, "how nice they look! I must have a taste of them, if I die for it;" and with that, up he jumped with all his might, but had the ill-luck not to reach the grapes; yet, as he could not find in his heart to leave them, he tried for them as long as he was able; so he leaped and jumped, and jumped and leaped, till at last he was glad to rest. But when he found all his pains were in vain, "Hang them!" said he, "I am sure they are not fit to eat, for they are as sour as crabs, and would set my teeth on edge for a whole week; and so I shall leave them for the next fool who may chance to come this way."
MORAL.
Some men make light of that which is out of their reach, though at the same time in their hearts they know not what to do for want of it.
THE FOX AND THE GRAPES.
Story DNA
Moral
Some men make light of that which is out of their reach, though at the same time in their hearts they know not what to do for want of it.
Plot Summary
A fox, known for his love of grapes, spots a luscious bunch hanging high on a vine. He desperately tries to reach them, leaping and jumping repeatedly until he is exhausted. Realizing his efforts are futile, the fox declares the grapes are sour and unfit to eat, deciding to leave them for someone else. The story concludes with a moral about people devaluing what they cannot obtain.
Themes
Emotional Arc
desire to frustration to feigned indifference
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This fable is one of Aesop's Fables, a collection of ancient Greek stories often attributed to a slave and storyteller named Aesop. They are characterized by animal characters and a clear moral lesson.
Plot Beats (8)
- A young fox, who values grapes, sees a fine bunch hanging on a poor man's vine.
- The sight of the grapes makes the fox eager to taste them.
- He declares he must have them, even if it costs him his life.
- The fox jumps with all his strength but cannot reach the grapes.
- Unable to give up, he continues to leap and jump repeatedly.
- Eventually, the fox becomes tired and rests, realizing his efforts are useless.
- He then dismisses the grapes as sour and inedible, claiming they would set his teeth on edge.
- The fox decides to leave the grapes for the next 'fool' who comes along.
Characters
The Fox
A lean, agile fox with a lithe build, indicative of a creature that relies on speed and cunning. His fur is a vibrant reddish-brown, typical of a red fox, with a lighter, almost creamy underside. He has slender legs and a bushy tail, which he uses for balance.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To satisfy his desire for the grapes, driven by their appealing appearance and his own appetite.
Flaw: His pride and inability to admit defeat or failure, leading him to rationalize his shortcomings.
He begins with eager determination, driven by desire. He experiences frustration and physical exhaustion. His arc concludes with a rationalization of his failure, shifting from desire to dismissive disdain, demonstrating a failure to overcome his pride.
Cunning, persistent (initially), easily frustrated, proud, dismissive (when defeated), self-deceiving.
The Grapes
A lush, full bunch of ripe, dark purple grapes, plump and glistening, hanging high on a vine. Each grape is round and firm, clustered tightly together, suggesting sweetness and juiciness.
Attire: Not applicable.
Wants: None, as they are an inanimate object.
Flaw: None.
They remain unchanged throughout the story, serving as the static object of desire.
Passive, desirable (from the fox's perspective), unattainable.
Locations
Poor Man's Vineyard
A rustic vineyard belonging to a poor man, likely unkempt but bearing fruit. A specific vine has a fine bunch of grapes hanging high up.
Mood: Initially tempting and desirable, then frustrating and ultimately dismissive.
The Fox attempts repeatedly to reach the grapes, fails, and then dismisses them as sour.