Aesop
|
Greece

The Farmer and the Snake

A farmer saves a dying snake, but the snake repays kindness with a fatal bite.
Caution
Trust
Betrayal
The Farmer and the Snake
Audio available for B1 version

One day, on a cold winter's day, a farmer saw a snake lying still and cold near his field. The snake was almost dead from the cold. Feeling sad for the poor thing, the farmer chose to save it and make it well again.

The kind farmer picked up the snake and took it home. He put the cold snake near the warm fire, hoping that the heat would help it. Slowly, the snake began to warm up, getting its strength back.

As the snake got better, it suddenly moved fast and, without warning, bit the farmer who had saved it. The bite had poison, and the farmer quickly began to feel the bad effects of the poison in his body.

The farmer, knowing that the snake he had saved hurt him, felt sad about what happened. As he lay dying, he couldn't help but think that helping the wrong people will soon lead to regret.

One cold day, a farmer finds a snake. It is very cold. The snake does not move. The snake is almost dead. The farmer feels sad. He wants to help.

The farmer picks up the snake. He takes it home. He puts the snake near a warm fire. He thinks the fire helps the snake.

After some time, the snake gets warm. It gets strong again. The snake moves fast. It bites the farmer. The bite is bad. It has poison. The farmer feels very sick.

The farmer is hurt by the snake. He feels very sad. He thinks, "Helping some can make you sad later."

One cold winter day, a farmer saw a snake lying still and almost frozen near his field. The snake looked like it was going to die because of the cold. The farmer felt sorry for the snake and decided to help it.

The kind farmer picked up the snake and took it home. He put the cold snake near a warm fire, hoping the heat would help it. Slowly, the snake began to warm up and get stronger.

As the snake got better, it suddenly moved and bit the farmer who had saved it. The bite was poisonous, and the farmer quickly began to feel sick.

The farmer realized the snake he helped had hurt him, and he felt sad. As he got sicker, he thought about how helping the wrong animal could cause regret.

Once upon a chilly winter day, so cold that even snowflakes wished they had little snowflake sweaters, a farmer was walking by his field. He saw a snake, lying on the ground like a frozen noodle.

The farmer said, "Wow, you're colder than ice cream!"

Feeling sorry for the snake that looked like it could become a snake popsicle, the farmer decided to play hero.

He told the snake, "Hang tight, Mr. Wiggly! Time for a warm-up!"

The farmer picked up the snake, as chilly as an ice cube, and took it to his cozy living room. There, he placed it near the fireplace, so warm it felt like summer in a box.

Slowly, the snake started to feel its wiggles come back. It moved like a bowl of jiggly jelly.

The snake cheered, "Yay! I'm back, baby!"

Feeling all sassy and full of life, the snake suddenly turned and bit the farmer faster than you can say, "Surprise!"

The snake giggled, "Haha! That's what you get for messing with my nap time!"

The farmer felt dizzy, as if he'd spun around too many times on a merry-go-round. He knew the bite was poisonous, not the fun kind of poison like in fairy tales.

The farmer shook his head, "Well, you sneaky snake, you sure flipped the script!"

Feeling more and more like he was floating, but not in a fun way, the farmer couldn't help but think.

He mused, "Maybe next time I'll just rescue a kitten or something less bitey."

And as he felt himself getting sleepier and sleepier, he wished he had just let the chilly snake chill.

Once upon a chill, a farmer found,
A snake so still, upon the ground.
Its body cold, its spirit weak,
The farmer felt he had to speak.

"I'll save you, snake, you'll be alright,"
He carried it from cold to light.
Before his hearth, the snake did lay,
Its icy chill began to sway.

With warmth returned, the snake felt fine,
Its scales took on a healthy shine.
But then it turned, a quick surprise,
And bit the man, right 'fore his eyes.

The venom spread, a toxic blow,
The farmer's face lost all its glow.
He sighed and said, as strength did fade,
"I wish I hadn't lent my aid."

With sorrow steeped, his eyes grew dim,
For kindness shown was turned on him.
The lesson here, please understand,
Not all you help will kiss your hand.

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Word Finder

  1. Finds

    To see or get something.

  2. Snake

    A long, thin animal.

  3. Dead

    Not alive anymore.

  4. Picks

    To lift up something.

  5. Warm

    Not cold, a little hot.

  6. Fire

    Hot light that burns things.

  7. Strong

    Can do hard things.

  8. Bites

    Uses teeth to cut.

  9. Poison

    Bad thing that makes sick.

  10. Feels

    To have a feeling inside.

  1. Frozen

    Turned into ice due to cold.

  2. Field

    An open area of land.

  3. Decided

    Made a choice to do something.

  4. Warm

    Not too hot, but comfortable.

  5. Fire

    Flames that produce heat and light.

  6. Heat

    The quality of being hot.

  7. Stronger

    Having more strength or power.

  8. Poisonous

    Able to cause sickness or death.

  9. Quickly

    At a fast speed.

  10. Regret

    Feeling sorry for a bad decision.

Understanding Questions

  1. What does the farmer find?

    1. A cat
    2. A bird
    3. A snake
    4. A rabbit
  2. Where does the farmer take the snake?

    1. To a tree
    2. To a river
    3. To his home
    4. To a shop
  3. What helps the snake get warm?

    1. The sun
    2. The fire
    3. The water
    4. The wind
  4. What does the snake do to the farmer?

    1. It hugs him.
    2. It bites him.
    3. It sings to him.
    4. It runs away.
  5. How does the farmer feel at the end?

    1. Happy
    2. Angry
    3. Sad
    4. Hungry
  1. What did the farmer find near his field on a cold winter day?
  2. How did the farmer try to help the snake?
  3. What happened to the snake after it was placed near the warm fire?
  4. What did the snake do to the farmer after it warmed up?
  5. How did the farmer feel after the snake bit him?
  1. How does the farmer's initial reaction to the snake reflect his character?
  2. What actions did the farmer take to help the snake recover from the cold?
  3. What was the snake's response after regaining its strength, and how did this affect the farmer?
  4. How does the farmer's realization at the end of the story demonstrate a change in his perspective?
  5. What emotions did the farmer experience throughout the story, and how did they change?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why did the farmer decide to help the snake, even though snakes can be dangerous?
  2. How do you think the farmer felt when he was bitten by the snake he saved?
  3. Can you recall a time when you helped someone or something, and it didn't turn out the way you expected?
  4. What does this story teach us about trust, kindness, and the nature of certain things or people?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story in our lives to be careful about who or what we trust, even when we are trying to be helpful and kind?

Fable Quotes

In caution, we find the shield that guards us from the bites of betrayal.
Trust is a precious jewel, to be given cautiously, not carelessly.
Betrayal, like a snake's bite, leaves a mark that lingers.
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