Vom Bescheidenen Hähnchen
by Lisa Wenger · from Amoralische Fabeln
Adapted Version
Once, there were two little chicks. They lived with Mama Hen.
Little Chick spoke to Mama Hen. "We want to see the world." "Yes, we do," Big Chick said.
Mama Hen shook her head. "Children want many things!" she said. "Go now. Be back soon. Be polite. Do not push first. Adults do not like this."
The chicks ran away fast. They chirped happily. Mama Hen watched them go. "Big Chick is okay. But Little Chick..."
The chicks walked. Little Chick felt hungry. "Food?" he asked Big Chick. Big Chick said, "No. But see! A fat worm!" Little Chick said, "Thanks!" He ate. Big Chick looked. "My worm," he said. "I saw it first." Little Chick ate it first.
They walked many days. The world was big. They felt tired. They wished for Mama Hen. "I want to go home," Big Chick said.
Mr. Fox stood before them. He laughed. "Hello, little chicks!" he said. "Who wants to play a game? Who wants to go first?"
Little Chick spoke to Mr. Fox. "Please, Mr. Fox," he said. "I will wait. I can wait for my turn."
Mr. Fox grabbed Big Chick. He took Big Chick away. Mr. Fox ran very fast. Big Chick was gone. Little Chick saw him go. Big Chick did not come back.
Little Chick ran home. He ran very fast. He ran to Mama Hen.
Little Chick cried to Mama Hen. "Mama Hen! You were right!" he said. "Being polite is good. It is a very good thing."
Mama Hen looked at Little Chick. She looked at him with doubt. "Where is Big Chick?" she asked.
"Mr. Fox took Big Chick," Little Chick said. "I listened to you, Mama. I was polite. I did not push first. If I pushed, I would be gone. So I am safe." Mama Hen looked sad.
Little Chick was safe. But Mama Hen still looked sad. She missed Big Chick. Being clever is good. But being kind is good too.
Original Story
Vom bescheidenen Hähnchen
»Frau Mutter, wir möchten uns ein wenig in der Welt umsehen,« sagte das jüngste Hähnchen zu der Henne.
»Ja, das möchten wir,« sagte auch das älteste.
»Was heutzutage die Kinder nicht alles wollen!« Die Henne schüttelte den Kopf. »So geht! Ihr werdet bald genug wieder da sein. Und was ich sagen wollte: Seid ja recht bescheiden und drängt euch nirgends vor. Das können die Erwachsenen nicht leiden.«
Die Hähnchen machten sich eilends davon und krähten heiser und vergnügt in die Welt hinaus. Die Henne sah ihnen nach.
»Um den Ältesten ist mir nicht bange,« sagte sie zum Hahn, »aber der Jüngste.«
»Jugend hat keine Tugend,« bedeutete sie der Hahn.
Die Hähnchen zogen über das Feld, und das jüngste wurde hungrig.
»Hast du etwas zu essen?« fragte es seinen Bruder.
»Nein,« sagte der Älteste; »aber da kriecht eine fette Raupe.«
»Danke!« sagte das Jüngste, und fraß sie auf. Verblüfft sah der andere zu.
»Eigentlich hätte sie mir gehört. Ich habe sie zuerst gesehen.«
»Aber ich habe sie zuerst gefressen,« sagte ruhig das Hähnchen.
Sie liefen weiter und liefen manchen Tag, und die Welt hatte immer noch kein Ende. Es wurde ihnen fast unheimlich zumute.
»Ich wollte, ich wäre wieder daheim bei der Frau Mutter!« sagte das Älteste.
»Das glaube ich!« lachte der Fuchs, der plötzlich vor ihnen stand. »Welches von euch beiden möchte nun zuerst gefressen werden?«
»Bitte, Herr Fuchs, ich warte gerne,« sagte das jüngste Hähnchen bescheiden.
Da packte der Fuchs den Ältesten und zerriß ihn. Das Jüngste aber lief über das Feld heimwärts, so schnell es konnte. Es rannte und flog und krähte, bis es endlich bei seiner Mutter war.
»Frau Mutter,« schrie es schon von weitem, »oh, wie recht haben Sie gehabt. Bescheidenheit ist eine schöne Sache.«
»So,« sagte die Henne und sah ihren Jüngsten mißtrauisch an, »und wo hast du denn deinen Bruder?«
»Den hat der Fuchs gefressen, Frau Mutter. Und hätte ich nicht auf Sie gehört und mich unbescheiden vorgedrängt, so hätte die Sache schief ablaufen können.«
Story DNA
Moral
True modesty is not always rewarded, and sometimes, a display of false humility can be a cunning survival tactic.
Plot Summary
Two young chicks venture into the world, despite their mother's warning to be modest. The younger chick quickly demonstrates a selfish nature by taking food from its older brother. Later, when confronted by a hungry fox, the younger chick feigns modesty, offering to wait, which leads the fox to devour the older brother instead. The younger chick returns home, falsely claiming its 'modesty' saved it, leaving its mother with a sense of unease and suspicion.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to cynical survival
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Lisa Wenger was a Swiss author and artist, known for children's books. This story, while simple, carries a darker, more cynical undertone than many traditional 'modesty' tales, reflecting a certain pragmatism.
Plot Beats (12)
- The youngest chick expresses a desire to see the world, joined by the oldest.
- Their mother hen reluctantly agrees, warning them to be modest and not push themselves forward.
- The chicks set off, with the mother worrying more about the youngest.
- The youngest chick, hungry, eats a caterpillar the oldest spotted first, justifying it by saying it ate it first.
- After many days of wandering, the chicks grow weary and wish to be home.
- A fox suddenly appears, asking which chick wishes to be eaten first.
- The youngest chick, feigning modesty, says it will gladly wait.
- The fox seizes and devours the older chick.
- The youngest chick flees home as fast as it can.
- Upon returning, the youngest chick loudly proclaims its mother was right about modesty.
- The mother hen, suspicious, asks about the older brother.
- The youngest chick explains the fox ate the older brother, implying its own 'modesty' saved it from the same fate.
Characters
The Youngest Chick
A small, fluffy yellow chick, slightly smaller than its older brother, with delicate legs and a soft, downy coat. Its movements are quick and agile.
Attire: None, as it is a chick.
Wants: To explore the world, satisfy its hunger, and ultimately, to survive.
Flaw: Its self-serving nature, which it cleverly disguises as modesty.
Starts as a curious, slightly selfish chick, and through a life-threatening encounter, learns to weaponize its perceived 'modesty' for survival, reinforcing its opportunistic nature rather than truly changing.
Clever, opportunistic, seemingly modest but with a self-serving streak, quick-witted, survival-oriented.
The Oldest Chick
A small, fluffy yellow chick, slightly larger than its younger brother, with delicate legs and a soft, downy coat.
Attire: None, as it is a chick.
Wants: To explore the world with its brother, but ultimately to return home safely.
Flaw: Its lack of assertiveness and quick thinking, making it an easy target.
Starts adventurous but quickly becomes fearful and is ultimately eaten by the Fox, serving as a cautionary tale for its brother.
Compliant, easily surprised, somewhat naive, fearful, less assertive than its brother.
The Hen
A plump, motherly hen with soft, ruffled feathers, likely brown or reddish-brown, and sturdy legs.
Attire: None, as she is a hen.
Wants: To ensure the safety and well-being of her chicks, to impart wisdom.
Flaw: Her worry and inability to fully control her children's choices.
Remains consistent as the worried mother figure, her initial advice proving tragically true for one chick, and her suspicion confirmed by the other's manipulative retelling.
Worried, cautious, wise (in her own way), somewhat suspicious, protective.
The Rooster
A proud rooster with colorful, iridescent feathers, a large red comb, and a strong, upright posture.
Attire: None, as he is a rooster.
Wants: To offer a philosophical perspective on youth and its challenges.
Flaw: His somewhat detached view, not actively intervening or worrying as much as the Hen.
Remains consistent, serving as a voice of traditional wisdom.
Philosophical, somewhat detached, traditional, fatalistic.
The Fox
A sleek, cunning fox with reddish-brown fur, a bushy tail, and sharp features.
Attire: None, as it is a fox.
Wants: To hunt and eat the chicks.
Flaw: None shown in the story, as it successfully achieves its goal.
Remains consistent as the dangerous predator, serving as the catalyst for the Youngest Chick's 'lesson' in survival.
Cunning, predatory, opportunistic, amused by its prey.
Locations
The Farmyard
A typical German farmyard, likely with a half-timbered farmhouse, a small coop, and a dirt or gravel ground. The hen watches her chicks leave from this familiar, safe space.
Mood: familiar, safe, bustling with farm life, a sense of departure
The two young chickens depart on their journey after their mother's advice.
The Open Field
A vast, open agricultural field, likely with tall grasses or crops, stretching far into the distance, giving the impression of an endless world to the young chickens.
Mood: expansive, adventurous, later becoming unsettling and dangerous
The chickens journey across the field, encounter a caterpillar, and later, the fox.