The Fox and the Goat – A Russian Folk Tale about Trickery and Trust
The tale "The Fox and the Goat" tells the story of how the cunning fox tricked the trusting goat to escape from a well. A story with an important lesson for children about caution and trust.
Description: A tale about how the fox, who was in trouble, managed to escape by tricking the goat. The full version of the story with a lesson about being cautious and not trusting tricksters.
One day, the fox became hungry and decided to look for something tasty in the village. While sneaking through the houses, she accidentally fell into a deep well. Fortunately for her, there was no water in it, but she could not get out on her own. The fox began thinking about how to escape and, finding no solution, sat and waited for someone to pass by.
At that moment, a goat was walking by. Seeing the well, he came closer and peered inside. When he saw the fox, he was surprised and asked:
– Fox, what are you doing down there?
The fox, in order to hide her predicament, pretended to be content and answered joyfully:
– Oh, Goat! The water here is so delicious and cool! I just can't drink enough. Come down and try it, you won't regret it!
The goat, believing the fox’s words, jumped into the well to drink. But as soon as he was at the bottom, the clever fox realized she could use him to escape. She looked at him and said:
– Well, Goat, did you drink the water? Now you will be very useful to me!
The goat, puzzled, asked:
– What do you mean?
The fox, not wasting any time, replied:
– Stand on your hind legs, press your front hooves against the wall, and I will climb up your back and horns to get out. Afterward, I will help you too!
The goat, not suspecting any trickery, agreed. The fox skillfully climbed onto his back and then onto his horns, quickly reaching the top. Looking down, she slyly smiled and said:
– Well, Goat, your mind is as empty as this well! Next time, think before you jump into something!
With these words, the fox hurried away. The goat was left alone in the well. He bitterly regretted his trust and waited for someone to pass by and help him get out.
Moral: This tale teaches that you should never trust tricksters and reminds us that before making any decision, we must think carefully.
Questions for children:
- Why did the fox end up in the well?
- How did the fox convince the goat to jump in?
- What lesson does this story teach us?
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