Aesop
|
Greece

The Grasshopper and The Owl

An Owl disturbed by a chirping Grasshopper asks it to leave, but when the Grasshopper ignores, the Owl cleverly eats it to regain peace.
Respect
Consequences
Wisdom
Aesop's Fables - The Grasshopper and The Owl
Audio available for B1 version

In a large, quiet forest, there lived an Owl. This Owl liked to sleep during the day. He found a cozy hollow in an old oak tree, and that was his home.

Not far from the Owl's tree, there was a Grasshopper. The Grasshopper loved to chirp and play under the warm sun. One day, the Grasshopper found himself near the Owl's tree. He started to chirp his heart out, enjoying the bright day.

The Owl, trying to sleep inside his hollow, was disturbed by the loud chirping. He came out of his home and said to the Grasshopper, "Please, I am trying to sleep. Can you chirp somewhere else?"

But the Grasshopper did not listen to the Owl. He chirped even louder. The Owl repeated his request, but every time he did, the Grasshopper just became louder and louder.

The Owl grew very tired and annoyed. He had to find a way to solve this problem. He thought for a moment and then came up with a plan.

He said to the Grasshopper, "You have such a beautiful voice. Would you like to come closer and sing for me?" The Grasshopper, flattered by the compliment, hopped closer to the Owl.

As soon as he was within reach, the Owl snapped up the Grasshopper in his beak. And just like that, the forest became quiet, and the Owl went back to sleep.

In a big forest, there is an Owl. The Owl sleeps during the day. He lives in a hole in a big tree.

Near the Owl, there is a Grasshopper. The Grasshopper likes to sing and play in the sun. One sunny day, he sings near the Owl's tree.

Inside the tree, the Owl is trying to sleep. But the Grasshopper's singing wakes him up. The Owl looks out and says, "Can you sing somewhere else? I am trying to sleep."

But the Grasshopper does not listen. He sings louder. The Owl asks again, but the Grasshopper sings even louder.

The Owl is very tired. He has an idea. He says to the Grasshopper, "Your voice is beautiful. Come and sing close to me."

The Grasshopper feels proud. He jumps closer to the Owl. When he is close, the Owl quickly catches the Grasshopper. Now, the forest is quiet. The Owl can sleep.

In a big, quiet forest, there was an Owl who liked to sleep during the day. He had a comfortable place inside a hole in an old oak tree, which he called his home.

Not far from where the Owl lived, there was a Grasshopper. This Grasshopper liked to sing and play in the sunlight. One sunny day, he went near the Owl's tree and started singing loudly, feeling very happy.

Inside the tree, the Owl was trying to sleep, but the Grasshopper's singing kept waking him up. He looked out of his tree and politely said, "Can you please sing somewhere else? I'm trying to sleep."

But the Grasshopper did not listen and sang even louder. The Owl asked him again, but the Grasshopper just kept singing louder each time.

Feeling very tired and annoyed, the Owl knew he had to find a solution. He thought for a moment and then had an idea.

He called out to the Grasshopper, "Your voice is so beautiful. Why don't you come here and sing close to me?" The Grasshopper felt proud and jumped closer to the Owl.

As soon as he was close enough, the Owl quickly caught the Grasshopper in his beak. With the Grasshopper gone, the forest became quiet again, and the Owl could finally sleep.

Once upon a time, in a forest so quiet you could hear a leaf drop, lived an Owl who was the ultimate fan of nighttime—seriously. This bird loved to snooze all day long, snuggled away in a cozy hole in an old oak tree.

Just down the way was a Grasshopper who was like a little music box on legs. Loved to chirp, loved the sun, and was a full-on party animal... or insect. One fine day, he thinks, "Wow, this tree's got good sound!" And starts singing his chirpy songs right next to Mr. Owl's sleep nook.

Inside, Owl was like, "Oh, give me a break!" Tossing and turning, he poked his head out and said, "Hey, could you take your concert somewhere else? Some of us are trying to sleep here!"

Did Grasshopper listen? No way! He cranked up the volume. "I'm a star!" he thought.

Owl's eyes narrowed. "I’ve got to do something about this noise, and fast." So, he came up with a plan as quick as a wink.

Puffing up his feathers and putting on his best talent judge voice, Owl said, "Wow, you've got a gift! Why don't you hop a bit closer and give me a personal performance?"

Well, Grasshopper, all puffed up with pride and thinking he's about to become a big deal, hopped closer. "This is my chance!" But quicker than you can say "Got Talent," Owl snapped him up. "Sorry, kiddo, show's over!"

Suddenly, the forest was as quiet as a game of hide-and-seek, and Owl, finally at peace, said, "Ah, quiet, how I've missed you."

And with that, he pulled a fluffy eye mask over his feathery face and went back to dreaming of soaring through the skies and being the star of the forest.

In a forest vast and wide,
An Owl did there reside.
In an oak tree’s snug embrace,
That hollow was his resting place.

Not too far, the Grasshopper stayed,
Under the sun, he danced and played.
Close to the Owl's tree, one day,
He chirped in his merry way.

Owl, with eyes so sleepy and round,
Was woken by the chirpy sound.
He asked the Grasshopper kind,
"Can you chirp a bit behind?"

But Grasshopper didn’t heed,
His chirping increased in speed.
Owl asked once, twice, and thrice,
But the bug kept on his noisy vice.

Then Owl thought, with a clever grin,
How to make the noise thin.
"Dear bug, sing close to me,
For your voice is sweet as can be."

Flattered, Grasshopper hopped so near,
But Owl’s intentions became clear.
With a snap, quiet filled the scene,
And Owl slept, serene and serene.

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Word Finder

  1. Forest

    A big place with many trees.

  2. Owl

    A bird that sleeps during the day.

  3. Grasshopper

    A small insect that can jump.

  4. Sings

    Uses voice to make music or sound.

  5. Inside

    In a place or thing, not outside.

  6. Wakes

    Stops sleeping and opens eyes.

  7. Idea

    Thought or plan in the mind.

  8. Listen

    Use ears to hear sounds or words.

  9. Louder

    Makes a bigger and stronger sound.

  10. Proud

    Feeling good about oneself or something.

  1. Comfortable

    Feeling relaxed and without any pain.

  2. Sunlight

    The light that comes from the sun.

  3. Politely

    In a nice and respectful way to others.

  4. Annoyed

    Feeling a little bit angry or bothered about something.

  5. Solution

    A way to solve a problem or deal with a difficult situation.

  6. Moment

    A very short period of time, just a brief instant.

  7. Proud

    Feeling happy about something you did well.

  8. Quickly

    In a fast or speedy manner.

  9. Beak

    The hard, pointed part of a bird's mouth.

  10. Quiet

    Making very little noise, silent or calm.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where does the Owl live?

    1. In a nest
    2. In a hole in a tree
    3. On the ground
    4. In a bush
  2. What does the Grasshopper like to do?

    1. Sleep during the day
    2. Sing and play in the sun
    3. Fly around the forest
    4. Eat leaves
  3. Why does the Owl wake up?

    1. The sun is too bright.
    2. The Grasshopper is singing.
    3. He is hungry.
    4. The tree is shaking.
  4. What does the Owl ask the Grasshopper to do?

    1. Go away
    2. Sing somewhere else
    3. Be quiet
    4. Jump around
  5. How does the Owl finally get the Grasshopper to be quiet?

    1. He scares the Grasshopper away.
    2. He catches the Grasshopper.
    3. He flies away.
    4. He gives the Grasshopper food.
  1. Where did the Owl live, and why did he choose that place?
  2. What did the Grasshopper like to do during the day?
  3. How did the Owl first ask the Grasshopper to stop singing?
  4. What was the Grasshopper's reaction when the Owl asked him to be quiet?
  5. How did the Owl finally manage to get some sleep?
  1. What did the Owl prefer to do during the day, and where did he reside?
  2. How did the Grasshopper behave when the Owl asked him to sing elsewhere?
  3. What strategy did the Owl use to finally silence the Grasshopper?
  4. Describe the Grasshopper's reaction to the Owl's compliment about his singing.
  5. What was the outcome for the Owl after he executed his plan with the Grasshopper?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Grasshopper didn't listen to the Owl's request to be quiet?
  2. How did the Owl manage to solve the problem with the noisy Grasshopper?
  3. Have you ever experienced a time when not listening to someone led to a problem? Can you share that?
  4. What does this story teach us about respecting others' needs and boundaries?
  5. Can you think of ways to apply the lesson from this story in your daily life, particularly in how you interact with others?

Fable Quotes

Understanding others is the key to respect, and respect is the key to peace.
Ignoring a request may invite an unexpected guest.
Wisdom is not just knowing when to speak, but also when to listen.
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