FABLE VI
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once there was a fox. He had a long, bushy tail. He loved his tail very much. One day, Fox walked in the woods. He did not see a big, tricky trap. His long tail got stuck. Oh no! Fox pulled and pulled. His tail was very stuck. He could not get free.
Fox wanted to be free. He wiggled his body very hard. He pushed and pulled and pushed. His tail stayed in the tricky trap. Fox ran away fast. Now he had no tail. His tail was gone. It was a very sad day for Fox. He felt very strange. He was not happy at all.
Fox was very sad. He had no tail. All other foxes had long, bushy tails. He felt very different now. He did not like this feeling at all. He had a tricky idea in his head. He wanted all foxes to be like him. He wanted them to have no tails. Then he would not feel strange. He would feel normal. This was his big plan.
Fox called many friends. He called all the other foxes. "Come here!" he said loudly. "Let's meet now." Foxes came. They sat down together. They looked at Fox. They wondered why he called them.
Fox stood up tall. He started to speak. "Friends," he said. "Listen to me! Tails are not good. Tails are too long. They get dirty in the mud. They get in the way. They are a big problem. You do not need them. They are not helpful at all. No tail is better. It is much better. "Trust me." He spoke long.
"No tail is fast," Fox said. "No tail is easy. I know this now. I have no tail. It is very good for me. I run faster. I play better. I am very happy now. My life is best this way. You should try it too. No tail is best for us. He smiled. He looked very proud.
Fox looked at his friends. He smiled a big, happy smile. He felt very proud. He thought they would all agree. He thought they would cut their tails off. He looked very confident. He waited for them to speak.
Then an Old Fox spoke. He was very wise. He had seen many things in his life. He looked at Fox. He knew why Fox said this. He knew Fox was sad about his tail. He gave a knowing look. He blinked his eyes slowly. He cleared his throat.
Old Fox spoke slowly. "Fox," he said. "You say no tail is good. You say this because you lost your tail. You had to lose it. We have our tails. We like them very much. We do not need to lose them. We are happy with them. We will keep our tails. We are not like you. Old Fox was wise.
The Old Fox was very wise. It is not good to tell friends to be like you. Not if you are sad. Be happy with what you have.
Original Story
FABLE VI.
THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL.
A Fox being caught in a steel trap by his tail, was glad to compound for his escape with the loss of it; but on coming abroad into the world, began to be so sensible of the disgrace such a defect would bring upon him, that he almost wished he had died rather than left it behind him. However, to make the best of a bad matter, he formed a project in his head to call an assembly of the rest of the Foxes, and propose it for their imitation as a fashion which would be very agreeable and becoming. He did so, and made a long harangue upon the unprofitableness of tails in general, and endeavoured chiefly to show the awkwardness and inconvenience of a Fox's tail in particular; adding that it would be both more graceful and more expeditious to be altogether without them, and that, for his part, what he had only imagined and conjectured before, he now found by experience; for that he never enjoyed himself so well, nor found himself so easy as he had done since he cut off his tail. He said no more, but looked about with a brisk air to see what proselytes he had gained; when a sly old Fox in the company, who understood trap, answered him, with a leer, "I believe you may have found a conveniency in parting with your tail; and when we are in the same circumstances, perhaps we may do so too."
THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL.
MORAL.
It is common for men to wish others reduced to their own level, and we ought to guard against such advice as may proceed from this principle.
Story DNA
Moral
It is common for men to wish others reduced to their own level, and we ought to guard against such advice as may proceed from this principle.
Plot Summary
A fox loses his tail in a trap and, feeling disgraced, concocts a plan to make his defect less conspicuous. He calls an assembly of other foxes and delivers a lengthy speech, arguing that tails are inconvenient and that being tailless is actually more graceful and efficient, citing his own recent 'experience'. However, a sly old fox sees through the deception and dismisses the advice, stating that others might only consider losing their tails if they were in the same unfortunate circumstances.
Themes
Emotional Arc
disgrace to attempted manipulation to exposure
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often reflect universal human traits and social dynamics, making them adaptable across eras without specific historical anchors.
Plot Beats (9)
- A fox gets caught in a steel trap by his tail.
- To escape, the fox sacrifices his tail, leaving it behind.
- Feeling disgraced by his tailless state, the fox devises a plan to make others like him.
- He calls an assembly of other foxes.
- The tailless fox gives a lengthy speech, arguing that tails are unprofitable, awkward, and inconvenient.
- He claims that being tailless is more graceful and efficient, citing his own recent 'experience'.
- He looks around confidently, expecting to have convinced the others.
- A sly old fox, who understands the situation, responds with a knowing look.
- The old fox states that he believes the tailless fox found convenience in losing his tail, and others might do the same only if they were in identical circumstances.
Characters
The Fox Without a Tail
A lean, reddish-brown fox of average size, with a sleek coat. His most distinguishing feature is the abrupt, clean stump where his tail once was, a stark contrast to the flowing tails of other foxes.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To alleviate his personal shame and embarrassment over losing his tail by convincing other foxes to adopt the same 'fashion,' thereby normalizing his own defect.
Flaw: His vanity and deep insecurity about his physical imperfection. He cannot accept his loss and resorts to deception.
He attempts to transform his personal misfortune into a societal trend to avoid ridicule, but his deception is ultimately seen through.
Vain, manipulative, insecure, cunning, persuasive.
The Sly Old Fox
A larger, grizzled reddish-brown fox, perhaps with some graying fur around his muzzle and ears, indicating his age and experience. His body might show signs of a life lived, but he remains robust.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To expose the deception of the Fox Without a Tail and protect the other foxes from foolish advice.
Flaw: Perhaps a tendency towards cynicism, but in this story, it serves him well.
He serves as the voice of reason, exposing the protagonist's flawed logic and preventing a collective mistake.
Shrewd, experienced, cynical, observant, wise.
Locations
The Steel Trap Location
A hidden, dangerous spot in the wilderness where a steel trap is set, likely near a game trail or a den entrance.
Mood: Perilous, desperate, painful, isolated.
The Fox loses his tail to escape the trap.
Fox Assembly Clearing
A secluded clearing in a temperate forest, suitable for a gathering of foxes, perhaps with some natural elevation or a prominent rock for speaking.
Mood: Social, slightly tense, expectant, natural.
The tailless Fox attempts to persuade others to cut off their tails.