The Fox and the Goose – A Complete Tale of Cunning, Wit, and the Triumph of Reason

Summary: In this tale, a cunning fox tries to deceive a goose, but the goose turns out to be smarter. Using his own wit, the goose secures his safety and teaches the fox a lesson about the dangers of trickery.

In a small forest, not far from a village, lived a pair of geese. Every day, they went to a pond to drink water and forage for food. One of them, a snow-white gander, was especially proud of himself. He always walked with his head held high, convinced that no one would dare harm him. But nearby, a fox lived—a sly and hungry fox. He had been eyeing the gander for some time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

One day, the fox stepped out of his hiding spot and approached the goose. Pretending to be friendly, he said, “Dear gander, isn’t it a beautiful day? You look so happy and majestic. Wouldn’t you like to take a stroll with me to the most beautiful meadow in the forest? There’s lush grass there, and no one will disturb us.”

The gander looked at the fox and thought carefully. He suspected the fox was up to something. But he knew he couldn’t show fear. “Why should I go into the forest? I have everything I need here,” said the gander. The fox persisted: “Of course, but imagine how peaceful it would be, far from the noise of the village. I just want to have a friendly chat with you.”

The gander sensed the fox’s trickery but decided to play along. “All right, let’s take a stroll,” he said. The fox was delighted, convinced that he would soon have his meal. They walked along a forest path until they came to a bridge over a river.

On the bridge, the fox stopped and said, “You know, gander, you can fly. Show me how beautifully you can soar across the river. If you can’t, I’ll help you walk across the bridge.” The gander realized that the fox was trying to trap him in the middle of the river, where he would be an easy target. So, the gander decided to use the fox’s cunning against him.

“Fly? That’s too easy,” said the gander. “Instead, why don’t you show me how you can jump across the river? After all, you’re famous for your agility!” The fox, who loved to boast, couldn’t resist the challenge. “Of course! Watch and learn!” he exclaimed.

The fox took a running start and leapt, but the bridge was wet and slippery. He lost his footing, fell into the water, and began flailing in the cold current. The gander, watching from the bridge, called out, “Well, fox, your cunning has backfired on you! You shouldn’t underestimate others and think you’re the smartest.”

The fox struggled to climb out of the river, soaking wet and furious. He never tried to trick the gander again, realizing that the bird was too clever for his schemes. The gander calmly returned to his pond, where he told the other geese how he outsmarted the fox.

Moral of the story: Trickery and deceit often turn against those who use them. Wit and resourcefulness can defeat even the most dangerous enemies.

Discussion Questions:

• Why did the goose suspect the fox’s intentions?
• How did the goose use the fox’s cunning against him?
• What does this story teach us about courage and resourcefulness?