The Fowler and The Birds
A bird hunter accidentally pricks himself, and a young bird mistakes his tears for remorse, but an older bird knows the truth.
Once upon a time, there was a man who liked to catch birds. He set up a smart trap in the forest to catch them. One day, while he was working on his trap, he accidentally poked his finger on a sharp stick. It hurt a lot, and he started to cry.
In a tree nearby, a young bird saw the man. The bird saw the man's tears and thought he was sad. "Look," the young bird said to an older bird next to it, "the man is crying. He must feel bad for catching and hurting us."
The older bird, who was very wise, shook its head and said, "Don't be fooled, my dear. Those tears are not because he feels sorry for us. They are because the sharp stick hurt him, not because he regrets what he did."
The older bird taught the young one to be careful and smart. It said that not everything is as it seems. Sometimes, people cry for different reasons, and not all tears mean they are sad for what they have done.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there was a man who liked to catch birds. He set up a smart trap in the forest to catch them. One day, while he was working on his trap, he accidentally poked his finger on a sharp stick. It hurt a lot, and he started to cry.
In a tree nearby, a young bird saw the man. The bird saw the man's tears and thought he was sad. "Look," the young bird said to an older bird next to it, "the man is crying. He must feel bad for catching and hurting us."
The older bird, who was very wise, shook its head and said, "Don't be fooled, my dear. Those tears are not because he feels sorry for us. They are because the sharp stick hurt him, not because he regrets what he did."
The older bird taught the young one to be careful and smart. It said that not everything is as it seems. Sometimes, people cry for different reasons, and not all tears mean they are sad for what they have done.
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Word Finder
Accidentally
By mistake, without planning or intention.Sharp
Something that can cut or hurt easily.Tears
Water drops from your eyes when you cry.Regret
Feeling sorry or bad about something done.Wise
Smart and knowing many things from experience.Fool
To trick or make someone believe something wrong.Careful
Paying close attention to avoid mistakes or danger.Trap
A device used to catch animals or people.Hurt
To cause pain or injury to someone.Seem
To appear or look like something is true.
Understanding Questions
- Why did the man cry while working on his trap?
- What did the man use to try and catch birds in the forest?
- What did the young bird initially think about the man's tears?
- How did the older bird explain the man's tears to the young bird?
- What lesson did the older bird teach the young bird about people's tears?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the young bird initially thought the man was sad?
- How did the older bird know that the man's tears weren't from sadness or remorse?
- Can you think of a time when you or someone else misinterpreted someone's actions or emotions?
- What does this story teach us about understanding the real reasons behind people's actions?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story to make sure we're not fooled by appearances in our own lives?
Fable Quotes
Understand deeply, for not every tear dropped holds the weight of remorse.
Trust not the tears of a hunter, for appearances deceive, and true intentions lie hidden within.
Through the lens of wisdom, even the most convincing tears can't hide the truth.
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