The Ant and the Grasshopper: Summary & Moral — An Aesop Fable About Diligence
What kind of story is The Ant and the Grasshopper?
The Ant and the Grasshopper is an Aesop fable that pairs the value of diligence with the beauty of sharing, through a grasshopper who sang all summer and an ant who worked hard. Loved for thousands of years, it remains one of the most beloved fables today.
The original story
This is Aesop fable Perry Index 373. The original main character was not a grasshopper but a cicada, and in the original the ant coldly turns the cicada away. As the tale spread to northern Europe it became a grasshopper, and in Korea and elsewhere it was adapted into a warm ending in which the ant helps the grasshopper.
Plot summary of The Ant and the Grasshopper
All summer long, while the grasshopper sings, the ant works hard to gather food. When winter comes and the grasshopper has nothing to eat, it goes to the ant, who welcomes it warmly and shares soup and grain. Grateful, the grasshopper promises to work hard starting next year.
The moral of The Ant and the Grasshopper
The heart of it is the wisdom of preparing ahead, the kindness of helping a friend in need, and growth after a mistake. Talk with your child about "When there's something you have to do even on a day you'd rather play, what should come first?" to help them build a balanced attitude.
How to read it aloud
Read the ant with an energetic "heave-ho!" and the grasshopper lightly, as if singing. Use your voice to express the changing seasons, and follow up with physical play like marching like ants or strumming an imaginary grasshopper guitar. Best suited for ages 4-7.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What age is The Ant and the Grasshopper best for?
A. It's best for ages 4-7. With the flow of the seasons and a clear moral of diligence and sharing, it makes a great first fable.
Q. Is it right that the ant turns the grasshopper away?
A. The original ends with a refusal, but in Korea and elsewhere it's more widely read in a warm version where the ant helps.
Q. What activities pair well with it?
A. Making a seasons board, imitating the ant march and the grasshopper's song, and writing out "things to prepare in summer" all work nicely.
Classic tales to read together
If your child enjoyed this story, try these classic tales too.
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