Der Hase Und Der Fuchs
by Unknown · from Märchen-Sammlung
Adapted Version
Once upon a time. A cold, snowy land. A hungry Foxy lived there. Hoppy was hungry too. They walked together. Winter was very cold. They had no food. They looked for food.
They saw a girl. She came walking. She carried a big basket. The basket had yummy rolls. They smelled so good. Foxy's tummy rumbled loud. Hoppy's tummy rumbled too.
Foxy had a clever plan. He spoke to Hoppy. "You must fall down. You must play dead. The girl will stop. I will take her basket. Then we eat the rolls."
Hoppy said, "Okay, Foxy." He fell down quickly. He lay very still. He played dead well. The girl came closer. She saw Hoppy. She put her basket down. She wanted to see Hoppy.
Foxy was very quick. He grabbed the basket. He ran very fast away. Hoppy jumped up quickly. He ran after Foxy. They ran far away.
Foxy did not share. He wanted all the rolls. He ate them all alone. Hoppy was not happy. He felt very sad. Foxy was not kind at all.
They came to a big pond. Hoppy had a new idea. He spoke to Foxy. "Let us catch some fish. We can eat fish and rolls. It will be a big feast. Like kings eat."
Hoppy told Foxy, "Put your tail in the water. Fish will bite it. Hold your tail there. The pond will freeze soon. Hurry, Foxy, hurry!" Foxy wanted fish very much.
Foxy wanted more food. He was very greedy. He went to the pond. He put his tail in. The water was very cold. He waited for fish.
The pond was very cold. The water froze fast. Foxy's tail got stuck. It was held fast. He could not move it.
Hoppy took the basket. He ate the rolls slowly. Foxy watched him eat. Hoppy ate one roll. Then he ate another. Foxy was very cross. He could not get them.
Hoppy finished all the rolls. He ran away fast. Foxy tried to run. His tail was stuck tight. He barked very loud. He was very angry.
Hoppy ate all the yummy rolls. Foxy was stuck in the ice, very cross. It is not good to be greedy and trick your friends.
Original Story
Der Hase und der Fuchs.
in Hase und ein Fuchs reisten beide miteinander. Es war Winterszeit, grünte kein Kraut, und auf dem Felde kroch weder Maus noch Laus. „Das ist ein hungriges Wetter,“ sprach der Fuchs zum Hasen, „mir schnurren alle Gedärme zusammen.“ — „Ja wohl“, antwortete der Hase. „Es ist überall Dürrhof, und ich möchte meine eigenen Löffel fressen, wenn ich damit ins Maul langen könnte.“
So hungrig trabten sie miteinander fort. Da sahen sie von weitem ein Bauernmädchen kommen, das trug einen Handkorb, und aus dem Korbe kam dem Fuchs und dem Hasen ein angenehmer Geruch entgegen, der Geruch von frischen Semmeln. „Weißt du was!“ sprach der Fuchs, „lege dich der Länge nach hin und stelle dich tot. Das Mädchen wird seinen Korb hinstellen und dich aufheben wollen, um deinen armen Balg zu gewinnen, denn Hasenbälge geben Handschuhe; derweilen erwische ich den Semmelkorb, uns zum Troste.“
Der Hase tat nach des Fuchsens Rat, fiel hin und stellte sich tot, und der Fuchs duckte sich hinter einer Windwehe von Schnee. Das Mädchen kam, sah den frischen Hasen, der alle Viere von sich streckte, stellte richtig den Korb hin und bückte sich nach dem Hasen. Jetzt wischte der Fuchs hervor, erschnappte den Korb und strich damit querfeldein; gleich war der Hase lebendig und folgte eilend seinem Begleiter. Dieser aber stand gar nicht still und machte keine Miene, die Semmeln zu teilen, sondern ließ merken, daß er sie allein fressen wollte. Das vermerkte der Hase sehr übel. Als sie nun in die Nähe eines kleinen Weihers kamen, sprach der Hase zum Fuchs: „Wie wär’ es, wenn wir uns eine Mahlzeit Fische verschafften? Wir haben dann Fische und Weißbrot wie die großen Herren! Hänge deinen Schwanz ein wenig ins Wasser, so werden die Fische, die jetzt auch nicht viel zu beißen haben, sich daranhängen. Eile aber, ehe der Weiher zufriert!“
Das leuchtete dem Fuchs ein, er ging hin an den Weiher, der eben zufrieren wollte, und hing seinen Schwanz hinein, und eine kleine Weile, so war der Schwanz des Fuchses fest angefroren. Da nahm der Hase den Semmelkorb, fraß die Semmeln vor des Fuchses Augen ganz gemächlich, eine nach der andern und sagte zum Fuchs: „Warte nur, bis es auftaut, warte nur bis ins Frühjahr, warte nur, bis es auftaut!“ und lief davon, und der Fuchs bellte ihm nach wie ein böser Hund an der Kette.
Story DNA
Moral
Those who deceive others for their own gain may find themselves outsmarted and suffer a worse fate.
Plot Summary
A hungry fox and hare encounter a peasant girl with a basket of rolls. The fox devises a plan for the hare to feign death, allowing the fox to steal the rolls. After the successful theft, the fox refuses to share the food. In retaliation, the hare tricks the fox into freezing his tail in a pond while attempting to catch fish. The hare then eats all the rolls in front of the trapped fox and escapes, leaving the fox to his predicament.
Themes
Emotional Arc
hunger to satisfaction (for one); hunger to frustration (for the other)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects common themes in European folk tales, particularly the trickster archetype and the use of animal characters to illustrate human flaws and cleverness. The harshness of winter and the value of basic food items are also common motifs.
Plot Beats (12)
- A fox and a hare are traveling together in winter, both very hungry.
- They see a peasant girl approaching with a basket of fresh rolls, which smells delicious.
- The fox proposes a plan: the hare should pretend to be dead, and while the girl is distracted, the fox will steal the rolls.
- The hare agrees and plays dead; the girl puts down her basket to pick up the 'dead' hare.
- The fox snatches the basket of rolls and runs off, with the hare quickly following.
- The fox shows no intention of sharing the rolls, much to the hare's displeasure.
- As they approach a pond, the hare suggests they could catch fish to go with the bread, like 'great lords'.
- The hare advises the fox to hang his tail in the water to catch fish before the pond freezes over.
- The fox, eager for more food, follows the hare's advice and puts his tail in the nearly frozen pond.
- The fox's tail quickly freezes solid in the ice.
- The hare then leisurely eats all the rolls in front of the trapped fox, taunting him.
- The hare runs away, leaving the fox barking in frustration with his frozen tail.
Characters
The Fox
A lean, agile fox of average size, with a lithe build suggesting speed and cunning. His fur is a vibrant reddish-orange, typical of a European red fox, with a contrasting white belly and chest. His legs are slender and powerful, ending in dark paws. He moves with a sly, confident grace.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To satisfy his hunger and secure resources for himself, primarily food. He is driven by self-preservation and a desire for comfort.
Flaw: Greed and overconfidence. His belief in his own cleverness makes him susceptible to the tricks of others, especially when his desires are played upon.
He begins as the dominant schemer, outwitting the Hare. However, his greed and overconfidence lead to his downfall, as he is outsmarted and left in a vulnerable, frozen state, learning a harsh lesson about trust and sharing.
Cunning, selfish, opportunistic, and somewhat arrogant. He is quick-witted in devising schemes for his own benefit but lacks foresight regarding consequences. He is also greedy, unwilling to share his spoils.
The Hare
A lean, agile European brown hare, slightly smaller than the fox, with long, powerful hind legs built for speed. His fur is a mottled brown and grey, providing camouflage against the winter landscape. His body is slender and muscular, indicating a creature of swift movement.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To satisfy his hunger and survive the harsh winter. After being betrayed, his motivation shifts to seeking justice and revenge against the Fox.
Flaw: His initial gullibility and trusting nature make him vulnerable to the Fox's schemes.
He begins as the Fox's unwitting accomplice and victim, easily tricked. Through this experience, he learns to be cunning and resourceful, transforming into a clever avenger who outsmarts the Fox, demonstrating growth in intelligence and assertiveness.
Initially naive, trusting, and somewhat passive. He is hungry and compliant. However, he quickly proves to be observant, intelligent, and capable of devising his own clever revenge when wronged. He is patient and strategic.
The Peasant Girl
A sturdy, healthy young woman of average height and build, typical of a German peasant. Her movements are practical and unadorned, accustomed to manual labor.
Attire: She wears practical, warm winter clothing common in 19th-century Germany. This would include a thick, dark wool skirt, a long-sleeved linen blouse, and a sturdy, perhaps quilted, bodice or vest over it. A simple wool shawl might be draped over her shoulders, and she would wear sturdy leather or wooden clogs on her feet. Her clothes are clean but well-worn, in muted, earthy tones.
Wants: To carry her basket of rolls to its destination and to make use of any unexpected find, like a 'dead' hare, for its pelt.
Flaw: Her desire for the hare's pelt makes her momentarily distracted, allowing the Fox to steal her basket.
She serves as a plot device and does not undergo a personal arc.
Practical, observant (noticing the 'dead' hare), and perhaps a bit opportunistic (wanting the hare's pelt). She is focused on her tasks.
Locations
Snow-covered Field
A desolate, open field covered in a thin layer of snow, with no green vegetation visible. A snowdrift (Windwehe) provides minimal cover.
Mood: Bleak, hungry, desperate, cunning
The fox tricks the hare into feigning death to steal a basket of rolls from a passing peasant girl.
Small, Freezing Pond
A small, partially frozen pond, its surface just beginning to solidify with ice. The surrounding area is still wintry and sparse.
Mood: Cold, tense, vengeful, ironic
The hare tricks the fox into freezing his tail in the pond, allowing the hare to eat all the stolen rolls in revenge.