Section 1
The Fox and the Grapes explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches of Grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis, and did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air. But it was all in vain, for they were just out of reach: so he gave up trying, and walked away...
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Public-domain original
A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches of Grapes hanging from a vine that
was trained along a high trellis, and did his best to reach them by
jumping as high as he could into the air. But it was all in vain, for
they were just out of reach: so he gave up trying, and walked away
with an air of dignity and unconcern, remarking, "I thought those
Grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A hungry fox cannot reach some grapes and then pretends they were sour anyway.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it names a common human habit: dismissing what we cannot get instead of admitting disappointment.
Characters in this scene
- The Fox: The hungry animal who cannot reach the grapes.
- The grapes: The desired prize the fox cannot obtain.
Simple story version
A fox wants grapes but cannot reach them. Instead of admitting failure, he says they were probably sour.