Aesop
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Greece

The Hawk and The Nightingale

A magical Nightingale pleads with a hungry Hawk to spare her, offering her beautiful songs, but her pleas go unheard.
Caution
Consequences
Survival
Aesop's Fables - The Hawk and The Nightingale
Audio available for B1 version

In a lush green forest, there lived a sweet Nightingale with a magical voice. She sang enchanting songs that filled the air with harmony. However, one unfortunate day, she was caught by a hungry Hawk who had been tirelessly searching for food the whole day.

The Nightingale, terrified and worried, pleaded with the Hawk, "Please, oh, mighty Hawk, let me go! I am too tiny to fill up your large stomach. Also, I sing beautiful songs. If you release me, I promise to sing for you. My music will surely soothe your soul."

The Hawk, who had a sharp gaze and powerful talons, chuckled at the Nightingale's plea. "Oh, little Nightingale," he responded, "your song may be sweet to the ears, but it cannot satisfy the hunger in my belly."

And so, the Nightingale's pleas went unheard, and the hungry Hawk did what he needed to do to survive.

In a forest as green as a big, bouncy frog, there lived a Nightingale. She had a voice so magical, it made even the frogs stop their ribbiting to listen. "La-la-laa, I'm the star singer of the forest!" she'd sing, making the whole place sound happier than a birthday party.

But oh boy, one day a hungry Hawk flew into the scene. This guy was so hungry his tummy was grumbling like a race car engine. "I've looked everywhere for food, and it's like everyone's hiding from me. No one wants to come to my dinner!"

The Nightingale was really scared, shaking like a jelly dessert. "Hey, Mr. Big Bird! Listen, I'm too small to fill you up. Plus, I can sing really, really well. If you let me go, I promise I'll sing you the best song ever. It'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!"

The Hawk looked at her and laughed, the way you laugh when someone tells a really silly joke. "Warm and fuzzy? That's funny! But you know what, my tummy doesn't want warm and fuzzy. It wants food!"

And so, just like when you eat the last cookie when no one's looking, the Hawk did what he had to do. But let's not judge too harshly; after all, even the baddest of birds got to eat.

In a forest lush and grand,
A Nightingale did sweetly stand,
With melodies both clear and bright,
She filled the woods with pure delight.

But as she trilled a song so fine,
A hungry Hawk began to pine.
His search for food had been quite long,
And now he heard the bird's sweet song.

"Oh, mighty Hawk, please hear my plea,
I'm small and not a hearty spree.
Let me go, I'll sing so true,
My songs will bring peace to you."

The Hawk looked down, his eyes did gleam,
"Your songs are sweet, like a dream,
But music won't my hunger cease,
For I need food to find my peace."

Though sad it is, nature's way,
The Hawk needed food that day.
But still in woods, near rivers wide,
Songs of Nightingales do reside.

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Understanding Questions

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why did the Nightingale ask the Hawk to let her go?
  2. How do you think the Nightingale felt when the Hawk did not listen to her pleas?
  3. Why do you think the Hawk decided not to listen to the Nightingale's songs, even though they were beautiful?
  4. What does this story teach us about the difference between our wants (like the beauty of music) and our needs (like the Hawk's hunger)?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our own lives when deciding between things that are enjoyable and things that are essential?

Fable Quotes

Caution reminds us, words can't feed, survival's need leads every deed.
Pleas fall silent when survival's at stake, life's choices have their own consequences to make.
Survival is a stage where the music of necessity outplays the symphony of pleas.
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