The Raven and the Cheese – A German Folk Tale about Greed and Lessons in Generosity
The German folk tale "The Raven and the Cheese" tells the story of a raven who loses his cheese due to his greed, but learns the importance of generosity and good deeds.
Brief Description:
The Raven and the Cheese is a German folk tale about how a raven loses his cheese because of his greed, but finds joy in helping others, becoming kinder and more generous in the process.
One day, the raven found a large piece of cheese on the field, which the farmer had accidentally dropped. The cheese was aromatic, soft, and looked so delicious that the raven immediately grabbed it with his beak and flew to a tall tree. He settled on the highest branch so no one could take his find.
At that time, a fox was wandering across the field. Her keen nose caught the scent of the cheese, and she soon spotted the raven. The fox was hungry, but she knew she couldn’t take the cheese by force. So, she decided to trick the raven.
— Hello, esteemed raven! — cried the fox as she approached the tree. — What beautiful feathers you have! They shine in the sunlight like gold! And your voice must sound like music. Won’t you sing me a song? The raven, flattered by such words, forgot everything else. He opened his beak to sing, and the cheese fell straight into the fox’s paws. — Thank you for the delicious treat, my friend, — said the fox, and disappeared into the bushes, pleased with her prize.
The raven sat on the branch, filled with shame and disappointment. — What a fool I’ve been, — he thought. — I believed the flattery and lost what was mine. My greed and vanity led to this loss. He thought for a long time about how to avoid such mistakes in the future, until his thoughts were interrupted by a soft chirping.
Below the tree, he noticed a little bird. It looked weak and was trying to find food among the fallen leaves. The raven thought: — I have no cheese left, but maybe I can help this little bird? Instead of lamenting his loss, he decided to do a kind deed. The raven flew down and found some seeds in the nearby field. He brought them to the little bird and gently placed them in front of her.
— Thank you, kind raven! — said the little bird. — You helped me when I was so hungry. The raven felt lighter. He realized that helping others was far more rewarding than guarding cheese.
From that day on, the raven decided not to be greedy anymore. He began helping other birds, sharing his food with them. Soon, word of his good deeds spread throughout the forest, and he was never alone. Birds gathered around him, respecting him for his generosity and kindness. Even the fox, when she met him again, bowed respectfully and never tried to deceive him again.
The Moral of the Story:
The story teaches that greed and vanity can lead to losses, but generosity and care for others fill life with joy and bring true happiness.
Questions for Children:
- Why did the raven lose his cheese?
- How did the raven feel when he helped the little bird?
- What lesson does this story teach us?
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