Aesop
|
Greece

The Peacock Stripped of his Feathers

Beautiful peacock shared his feathers with animals, but when he needed help, he was left alone, regretting his vanity and unthinking generosity.
Generosity
Regret
Responsibility
Featured in Fable Book
Aesop's Fables - The Peacock Stripped of his Feathers
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a forest filled with animals, there was a very beautiful peacock. He had lots of bright, shiny feathers that sparkled when the sun hit them.

One day, all the animals had a big meeting. The peacock walked into the meeting with his shiny feathers spread out. He looked so pretty that all the animals stared at him. They wished they could have pretty feathers like him.

Then, one brave animal asked the peacock, "Could I have just one of your pretty feathers, please?"

The peacock was happy that everyone liked his feathers so much. So, he said yes, and gave one feather to the animal. Soon, every animal in the forest asked for a feather.

The peacock kept giving away his feathers because he liked making his friends happy. But soon, he had given away all his feathers. Without his shiny feathers, he looked like any other bird.

When the weather turned cold, the peacock felt very chilly. He had no feathers left to keep him warm. Even though everyone had liked him so much before, no one helped him now.

And so, the peacock, who was once the envy of all, found himself alone and forgotten, realizing too late the cost of his vanity and unthinking generosity.

Once upon a time, in a big forest, there was a beautiful peacock. He had shiny, colorful feathers that sparkled in the sun.

One day, all the animals in the forest had a meeting. The peacock came to the meeting with his feathers spread out. All the animals stared at him and wished they had pretty feathers like his.

A brave little animal asked the peacock, "Can I have one of your pretty feathers, please?"

The peacock was happy that everyone liked his feathers, so he said yes and gave the animal a feather. Soon, every animal wanted a feather too.

The peacock kept giving his feathers to make his friends happy. But soon, he had no feathers left. Without his shiny feathers, he looked just like any other bird.

When the weather turned cold, the peacock felt very chilly. He had no feathers to keep him warm. Even though everyone liked him before, no one helped him now.

So, the peacock, who was once the most beautiful of all, found himself alone and forgotten. He learned that it’s nice to share, but he also realized it's important to think carefully about how much to give, so you can still take care of yourself.

Once upon a time, in a big forest, there was a beautiful peacock. He had shiny, colorful feathers that sparkled in the sun.

One day, all the animals in the forest had a meeting. The peacock came to the meeting with his feathers spread out. All the animals stared at him and wished they had pretty feathers like his.

A brave little animal asked the peacock, "Can I have one of your pretty feathers, please?"

The peacock was happy that everyone liked his feathers, so he said yes and gave the animal a feather. Soon, every animal wanted a feather too.

The peacock kept giving his feathers to make his friends happy. But soon, he had no feathers left. Without his shiny feathers, he looked just like any other bird.

When the weather turned cold, the peacock felt very chilly. He had no feathers to keep him warm. Even though everyone liked him before, no one helped him now.

So, the peacock, who was once the most beautiful of all, found himself alone and forgotten. He learned that it’s nice to share, but he also realized it's important to think carefully about how much to give, so you can still take care of yourself.

Once upon a time, in a forest where animals liked to party like it was a birthday every day, there was this super-duper peacock. He was the coolest bird around, with feathers so bright and shiny they looked like rainbow sprinkles.

So one day, all the animals had a big meeting. The owl was in charge, and he was like, "Okay, everybody, we need to talk about stuff like where to find the best acorns and who keeps stealing the picnic baskets."

Then in walked the peacock, showing off his feathers like he was a movie star. "Hey, everybody! Ready for a splash of awesome?"

All the animals stopped and stared. Even the squirrel forgot he was eating. They all wished they could be that cool.

A brave bunny hopped up and asked, "Hey, Mr. Peacock, can I have just one of your awesome feathers? It'd make my home look super cool!"

The peacock laughed. "Sure thing! Take a feather! I’ve got plenty!"

And that's how it started. Every animal got in line, even the ants tried to carry one, like they were playing team sports.

The peacock felt like he was the most popular bird in school. "Feathers for everyone!" he thought. "I'm like the king of sharing!"

But then—oops. He looked back and his feathers were all gone! He was just a regular bird now. "Um, this is awkward," he said.

Winter came, and it was colder than an ice cream sundae. The peacock was super cold. "Hey, can anyone share some warmth? Group hug, maybe?"

But no one answered. Even the crickets had tiny coats on.

And so, the peacock, who was once the envy of all, found himself alone and forgotten, realizing too late the cost of his vanity and unthinking generosity.

So there he was, our once fancy peacock, now just like any other bird, feeling a bit silly but learning a big lesson.

And the forest? It was the most colorful place ever, with peacock feathers decorating every home. But sometimes, if you listen really closely, you'll hear the peacock singing a little tune, a bit sad, but a lot wiser.

In a land where trees and critters play,
Lived a peacock, bright as day.
His feathers shimmered, oh so grand,
The most splendid in all the land.

When creatures gathered 'round the tree,
Peacock showed his plumes with glee.
“How we wish,” they all would sigh,
“To have such feathers, oh my, oh my!”

A bold little critter, eyes full of glee,
Asked, “May I have one, just for me?”
Peacock smiled, proud and true,
“Of course, dear friend, just for you!”

More came forward, one by one,
Till every feather he had was gone.
He stood there bare, no shine, no flair,
Just an ordinary bird, with nothing to wear.

Winter winds began to blow,
Peacock shivered, feeling low.
Once loved for his gleaming array,
Now alone and cold, he'd lost his way.

The lesson learned, as stars shone above,
Is to value yourself, and give with love.
For in giving too much, without a thought,
One might lose the very thing that can’t be bought.

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Word Finder

  1. Peacock

    A large bird with colorful, shiny tail feathers.

  2. Sparkled

    Shone brightly with small, moving points of light.

  3. Feathers

    Soft, lightweight outer covering of a bird's body.

  4. Spread

    Opened or stretched something wide or over a distance.

  5. Brave

    Showing courage, not afraid of danger or challenges.

  6. Chilly

    Uncomfortably cold, making you feel a bit frozen.

  7. Forgotten

    Not remembered or cared for anymore by others.

  8. Realized

    Understood something clearly for the first time.

  9. Meeting

    A gathering where people or animals come together.

  10. Important

    Something that matters a lot and should be valued.

Understanding Questions

  1. What made the peacock stand out among the other animals in the forest?
  2. Why did the peacock start giving away his feathers to the other animals?
  3. What happened to the peacock after he gave away all of his feathers?
  4. How did the peacock feel when the weather turned cold, and why?
  5. What lesson did the peacock learn by the end of the story?
Word Finder
  1. Peacock

    A large bird with colorful, shiny tail feathers.

  2. Sparkled

    Shone brightly with small, moving points of light.

  3. Feathers

    Soft, lightweight outer covering of a bird's body.

  4. Spread

    Opened or stretched something wide or over a distance.

  5. Brave

    Showing courage, not afraid of danger or challenges.

  6. Chilly

    Uncomfortably cold, making you feel a bit frozen.

  7. Forgotten

    Not remembered or cared for anymore by others.

  8. Realized

    Understood something clearly for the first time.

  9. Meeting

    A gathering where people or animals come together.

  10. Important

    Something that matters a lot and should be valued.

Understanding Questions
  1. What made the peacock stand out among the other animals in the forest?
  2. Why did the peacock start giving away his feathers to the other animals?
  3. What happened to the peacock after he gave away all of his feathers?
  4. How did the peacock feel when the weather turned cold, and why?
  5. What lesson did the peacock learn by the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the peacock gave away all of his feathers?
  2. How did the other animals react when the peacock had no more feathers?
  3. Can you think of a time when you gave something away to make others happy, but later regretted it?
  4. What does this story teach us about the importance of thinking about our actions and their consequences?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story to make thoughtful decisions about what we give and to whom?
Fable Quotes
True generosity is giving without losing oneself.
Regret is the shadow that follows hasty decisions.
The joy of giving should be balanced with the wisdom of responsibility.
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