The Three Bears and the Hare – A German Fairy Tale about Cleverness and Saving Friends
The German fairy tale The Three Bears and the Hare tells the story of a small hare who uses cleverness and ingenuity to save his forest friends from three big bears.
Brief Description:
The Three Bears and the Hare is a German fairy tale about a small hare who uses cleverness and wit to save his forest friends from three big bears. The story teaches that even the smallest and weakest can overcome strength with intelligence and wisdom.
In a dense forest lived three bears: the big one, the medium one, and the small one. But even the smallest one was huge and strong. All the animals in the forest feared these bears, as they loved to raid the meadow where the other animals lived. One day, the bears decided it was time for a big feast. — Time to eat well! — said the eldest bear. — Let’s go and catch anyone who crosses our path. With these words, the bears set off toward the meadow, where the hares, squirrels, mice, and hedgehogs played and roamed.
The little hare named Puschk heard the bears approaching and immediately realized that his friends were in danger. He quickly ran to the meadow to warn everyone. — Hide quickly! The bears are coming! — he shouted. The animals immediately hid in bushes, burrows, and tree hollows. But the hare knew that this wasn’t enough. If the bears started looking, they would certainly find someone. So, the hare decided to act with cleverness.
When the bears reached the meadow, the hare boldly stepped forward to meet them. — Hey, you big and strong bears! — he shouted. — If you’re so brave, prove it! — How should we prove it? — asked the eldest bear, surprised. — It’s easy, — replied the hare. — There’s a deep gorge at the edge of the forest. Only the strongest can jump over it. Aren’t you afraid to try?
The bears didn’t want to be called cowards and agreed to the hare’s challenge. — Lead us to this gorge, — they said. The hare led them to a deep ravine that no one could jump over. When they reached the edge, the hare said: — I’ll show you how it’s done. Watch closely! The hare pretended to gather speed but at the last moment swerved and hid in the bushes. The bears, not noticing this, decided to jump.
The eldest bear jumped first, but immediately fell into the bushes at the bottom of the ravine. The middle bear jumped after him and ended up next to him. The youngest tried to gather more speed but also couldn’t make the jump. All three bears found themselves at the bottom of the gorge and began to argue with each other. — This is your fault! — they grumbled. — Why did we listen to that hare in the first place?
Meanwhile, the hare returned to the meadow and told his friends: — The bears won’t be able to get out of the gorge for a long time. You’re all safe now. The animals thanked the hare for his bravery and cleverness. — You saved us, — they said. — You’re the smartest and bravest of all of us.
From that day on, the bears never dared to attack the meadow again, and the hare became a hero of the forest. His cleverness and wit showed that even the smallest can overcome strength if they are smart and quick.
The Moral of the Story:
The story teaches that intelligence and cleverness can defeat strength. Even the biggest obstacles can be overcome if you think with your head and act wisely.
Questions for Children:
- Why did the animals fear the bears?
- How did the hare outsmart the bears?
- What lesson does this story teach us?
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