The Partridge and The Fowler
Clever Partridge captured by Fowler offers to bring more birds for freedom, but Fowler refuses and Partridge meets its fate.
Once upon a time, in a beautiful green forest, there lived a smart partridge. This bird was clever, and all the other animals in the forest respected him.
One day, a man called the Fowler, who made his living by catching birds, came into the forest. He saw the partridge and quickly trapped him in a net. The partridge was very scared because he was in big trouble.
When the Fowler was about to kill the partridge, the bird begged, "Please, kind sir, let me go, and I will bring you many more birds like me."
The Fowler looked at the partridge seriously. He did not believe the bird's words. He said, "So, you would betray your friends and family just to save yourself? This shows me that I should not let you go."
And that was the end for the partridge. The Fowler did not change his mind.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, in a beautiful green forest, there lived a smart partridge.
This bird was clever, and all the other animals in the forest respected him.
One day, a man called the Fowler, who made his living by catching birds, came into the forest.
He saw the partridge and quickly trapped him in a net.
The partridge was very scared because he was in big trouble.
When the Fowler was about to kill the partridge, the bird begged, "Please, kind sir, let me go, and I will bring you many more birds like me."
The Fowler looked at the partridge seriously.
He did not believe the bird's words.
He said, "So, you would betray your friends and family just to save yourself?
This shows me that I should not let you go."
And that was the end for the partridge.
The Fowler did not change his mind.
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Word Finder
Partridge
A small bird that lives in the forest.Respected
Liked and admired by other people or animals.Fowler
A person who catches birds for a living.Trapped
Caught and unable to escape.Betray
To hurt someone who trusts you by doing something bad.Friends
People or animals you like and enjoy being with.Family
People you are related to and live with.Save
To keep someone or something safe from harm.Seriously
In a way that shows you mean what you say.Mind
The part of a person that thinks and feels.
Understanding Questions
- Where did the smart partridge live?
- Who came into the forest and trapped the partridge?
- How did the partridge feel when he was caught in the net?
- What did the partridge promise to do if the Fowler let him go?
- Why did the Fowler decide not to let the partridge go?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the Partridge offered to betray his friends and family to the Fowler?
- How did the Fowler react to the Partridge's plea?
- Can you recall a time when you or someone else had to make a difficult choice? How does it compare to the Partridge's situation?
- What does this story teach us about the importance of loyalty and honesty?
- How might the Partridge have acted differently in this story, and how could those choices have changed the outcome?
Fable Quotes
To betray others to save oneself is not strength, but the greatest weakness.
To abandon one's kin in danger is to abandon loyalty itself.
Every choice we make comes with consequences, so choose wisely.
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