FABLE XII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once there was a big Bear. He walked in the forest. A small Bee flew near him. The Bee gave Bear a little poke. It was just one small poke. Bear felt the poke. It was a tiny sting. Bear did not like it. Just one small Bee did it.
Bear felt the poke. He got very angry. Bear was very, very angry. He did not like the small poke. Bear wanted to get back. He wanted to get back at the Bee. His anger was big. He wanted to hurt the Bee too.
Bear saw the Bees' home. It was a big home. Bear was still very angry. He used his big paw. Bear pushed the home over. He knocked it to the ground. The home broke. Bear was very strong.
All the Bees were inside. Their home broke. All the Bees got very angry. They buzzed very loudly. The Bees were upset. Their home was broken. They did not like it. They were all angry now.
All the angry Bees flew out. They buzzed around Bear. The Bees flew all around him. They poked Bear many times. They poked his head. They poked his body. They poked his legs. Many Bees poked him. Bear felt many little pokes.
Bear cried out. He did not like it. Bear ran away very fast. He ran from the Bees. He felt many little pokes. The pokes were all over his body. Bear was sad. He was uncomfortable. Bear just wanted to run.
Bear sat down. He thought about it. He thought about the first small poke. He thought about many, many pokes. One small poke was not bad. Many pokes were very bad. Bear learned a lesson. He learned a big lesson. It was better to have just one poke. Not many, many pokes.
The Bear learned a lesson that day. It is better to be a little bit hurt. Do not make things much worse.
Original Story
FABLE XII.
THE BEAR AND THE BEES.
A Bear happened to be stung by a Bee; and the pain was so acute, that in the madness of revenge he ran into the garden, and overturned the hive. This outrage provoked their anger to such a degree that it brought the fury of the whole swarm upon him. They attacked him with such violence that his life was in danger, and it was with the utmost difficulty that he made his escape, wounded from head to tail. In this desperate condition, lamenting his misfortunes, and licking his sores, he could not forbear reflecting how much more advisable it had been to have patiently borne one injury, than by an unprofitable resentment to have provoked a thousand.
MORAL.
It is more prudent to acquiesce under an injury from a single person, then by an act of vengeance to bring upon us the resentment of a whole community.
Story DNA
Moral
It is more prudent to acquiesce under an injury from a single person, than by an act of vengeance to bring upon us the resentment of a whole community.
Plot Summary
A Bear is stung by a single Bee and, in a fit of rage, overturns the Bee's hive. This act provokes the entire swarm, which attacks the Bear so violently that he barely escapes with his life, severely wounded. As he licks his sores, the Bear reflects that it would have been much wiser to patiently endure the single injury rather than provoke a thousand by his unprofitable resentment.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anger to regret
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often served as simple moral lessons, easily understood and remembered, passed down through generations.
Plot Beats (7)
- A Bear is stung by a single Bee.
- The pain causes the Bear to become enraged and seek revenge.
- The Bear runs to the garden and overturns the Bee's hive.
- This act provokes the entire swarm of Bees.
- The Bees attack the Bear violently, endangering his life.
- The Bear barely escapes, wounded from head to tail.
- The Bear laments his misfortunes and realizes it would have been better to endure the initial injury than provoke a greater one.
Characters
The Bear
A large, robust bear, covered in thick, shaggy brown fur. He possesses powerful limbs and sharp claws, indicative of his strength. His body is currently covered in numerous red, swollen stings from head to tail.
Attire: None, as he is a wild animal.
Wants: To alleviate pain and exact revenge for perceived wrongs.
Flaw: His uncontrolled rage and impulsiveness, which leads him to escalate conflicts unnecessarily.
He begins as an impulsive, vengeful creature and ends with a newfound understanding of the consequences of disproportionate retaliation, learning the value of patience.
Impulsive, vengeful, short-tempered, prone to overreaction, but capable of reflection and learning from mistakes.
The Bees
A swarm of numerous small, flying insects with black and yellow striped bodies, delicate translucent wings, and stinging abdomens. They are depicted as a collective entity.
Attire: None, as they are insects.
Wants: To defend their hive and their community from perceived threats.
Flaw: Their collective nature means they can be provoked into a massive, potentially self-sacrificing attack.
They act as a collective force of nature, demonstrating the power of a united community when provoked. Their role is to deliver the lesson to the Bear.
Protective, territorial, vengeful when provoked, united in defense.
Locations
The Garden
A garden where a beehive is kept, likely a cultivated area with plants that attract bees.
Mood: Initially peaceful, then chaotic and dangerous due to the bear's rage and the bees' defense.
The bear, stung by a single bee, overturns the hive in a fit of rage, provoking the entire swarm.