Aesop
|
Greece

The River Fish and The Sea Fish

A river fish boasted about his superiority to sea fish, but in the end, it was their market value that determined their worth.
Humility
Value
Appreciation
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Aesop's Fables - The River Fish and The Sea Fish
Audio available for B1 version

There once was a large River Fish, who grew fat and strong swimming in the gentle currents of his home river. One day, a powerful current swept him off his feet, and before he knew it, he found himself in the vast open sea.

In this new place, he saw many different types of Fish, all from the sea. They were nothing like him, he thought. Proud of where he came from, he puffed out his chest and boasted about his river origins.

"I am from the great river," he'd say, "Strong and mighty, unlike you sea dwellers."

His words echoed through the water, reaching the ears of a small Sea Fish. The little one listened to the boasting River Fish and said, "You do think highly of yourself, don't you?"

But the River Fish just laughed. He didn't care about the tiny fish.

One day, as fate would have it, both the River Fish and the Sea Fish were caught by a fisherman's net. The fisherman, upon seeing the River Fish and the Sea Fish, began to beam with joy. He took the small Sea Fish and carefully placed it in a special basket.

Looking at the large River Fish, he simply tossed it into a larger pile with the other River Fish. The Sea Fish, on the other hand, was put in a basket filled with other delicate Sea Fishes, destined for the finest tables.

As they were taken away, the Sea Fish looked at the River Fish and said, "You see, in the market, it is not about where you come from, or how big or strong you are, but what people think you are worth."

Once there was a big River Fish. He became large and strong by swimming in the calm waters of his river. But one day, a strong current pulled him away, and soon he found himself in the wide, open sea.

In the sea, he saw many different types of fish. They were all sea fish, and they looked nothing like him. Feeling proud of his river home, he puffed out his chest and said, "I come from a great river. I am strong and mighty, not like you sea fish."

His words spread through the water, and a small Sea Fish heard him. The Sea Fish listened and said, "You think you're special, don't you?"

But the River Fish just laughed and didn’t care about the small fish.

One day, both the River Fish and the Sea Fish were caught in a fisherman's net. The fisherman looked at the two fish. He smiled when he saw the small Sea Fish and placed it carefully in a special basket.

When he saw the large River Fish, he just threw it onto a big pile with other river fish. The Sea Fish, however, was placed in a basket with other fine Sea Fish, chosen for special meals.

As they were taken away, the Sea Fish looked at the River Fish and said, "You see, it’s not about where you come from or how big you are. It’s about what people think you’re worth."

Once there was a big River Fish. He became large and strong by swimming in the calm waters of his river. But one day, a strong current pulled him away, and soon he found himself in the wide, open sea.

In the sea, he saw many different types of fish. They were all sea fish, and they looked nothing like him. Feeling proud of his river home, he puffed out his chest and said, "I come from a great river. I am strong and mighty, not like you sea fish."

His words spread through the water, and a small Sea Fish heard him. The Sea Fish listened and said, "You think you're special, don't you?"

But the River Fish just laughed and didn’t care about the small fish.

One day, both the River Fish and the Sea Fish were caught in a fisherman's net. The fisherman looked at the two fish. He smiled when he saw the small Sea Fish and placed it carefully in a special basket.

When he saw the large River Fish, he just threw it onto a big pile with other river fish. The Sea Fish, however, was placed in a basket with other fine Sea Fish, chosen for special meals.

As they were taken away, the Sea Fish looked at the River Fish and said, "You see, it’s not about where you come from or how big you are. It’s about what people think you’re worth."

Once upon a splashy time, in a river more relaxed than a lazy Sunday morning, there lived a River Fish. This wasn't just any fish; oh no! He was as round as a pizza and as proud as a king with a new crown. You might say he was the coolest fish in the river, always ready for a water-dance party.

Then, suddenly—WHEE!—a big wave swept him away. Goodbye, river! Hello, giant ocean!

In this huge wet playground, the River Fish saw some sea buddies. "Golly! They look different," he thought, wiggling his fins in surprise.

Feeling fancy, he announced, "Hey sea buddies! I'm from the super-duper river, where everything's awesome. You guys? Kinda like the background dancers, and I'm the main star!"

Just then, a little Sea Fish, quick and cheeky, swam up. "Hey Mr. Show-Off, your horn's getting a bit too tooty, isn't it?"

The River Fish giggled. "Oh, little one, you wouldn’t know cool if it tickled your tail!"

But then, on a day that seemed ordinary, SPLASH! A big net scooped them both up. Uh-oh, fishy trouble!

The fisherman was over the moon. "Wowza! Look at these two!"

He took the little Sea Fish and placed it in a comfy seaweed bed inside a special basket. But our River Fish? He was put with the other river buddies in a regular pile.

Being taken away, the Sea Fish cheekily said to the River Fish, "See, Mr. Cool Fish, it’s not about where you're from or how many dance moves you've got. It's about who the people think is the star of the show!"

And off they went, one like a prince and the other, well, a bit less royal.

In a river, wide and grand,
Swam a River Fish, through waters so bland.
Until a big wave, swift and neat,
Swept him away to the ocean's heartbeat.

Now surrounded by fish, both big and small,
From the vast blue sea, they did call.
He bragged with pride, without a miss,
“I'm from the river, quite unlike this!”

A little Sea Fish swam up with glee,
"You're quite the boaster," said he.
But the River Fish, with a chuckle so wry,
Didn’t heed the little fish, just passed him by.

Then one fateful day, a net from the skies,
Captured both fishes, to their surprise.
The fisherman smiled, his catch was vast,
But treated the two fish, so different and fast.

Into a pile, the River Fish thrown,
With others like him, he groaned.
The tiny Sea Fish, to a special basket went,
Bound for tables, where fine dinners are spent.

And before they parted, the Sea Fish did say,
“In the market, dear friend, there's a different play.
It's not where you're from, or your might and your girth,
But how people see, and what they think you're worth."

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Word Finder

  1. Current:

    A strong flow of water or air.

  2. Puffed:

    Breathed in and made your chest bigger.

  3. Mighty:

    Strong and powerful, very big.

  4. Spread:

    To move or send something over a wide area.

  5. Special:

    Different and important in a good way.

  6. Fisherman:

    A person who catches fish.

  7. Basket:

    A container made from woven material.

  8. Pile:

    A big stack of things on top of each other.

  9. Chosen:

    Picked out from others because of importance.

  10. Worth:

    The value of something, how important it is.

Understanding Questions

  1. What happened to the River Fish when a strong current came?
  2. Where did the River Fish find himself after the current pulled him?
  3. What did the River Fish say to show he was proud of where he came from?
  4. How did the fisherman treat the Sea Fish differently from the River Fish?
  5. What lesson did the Sea Fish share with the River Fish at the end of the story?
Word Finder
  1. Current:

    A strong flow of water or air.

  2. Puffed:

    Breathed in and made your chest bigger.

  3. Mighty:

    Strong and powerful, very big.

  4. Spread:

    To move or send something over a wide area.

  5. Special:

    Different and important in a good way.

  6. Fisherman:

    A person who catches fish.

  7. Basket:

    A container made from woven material.

  8. Pile:

    A big stack of things on top of each other.

  9. Chosen:

    Picked out from others because of importance.

  10. Worth:

    The value of something, how important it is.

Understanding Questions
  1. What happened to the River Fish when a strong current came?

    1. He got pulled away.
    2. He swam faster.
    3. He jumped out of the water.
    4. He sank to the bottom.
  2. Where did the River Fish find himself after the current pulled him?

    1. In a big lake.
    2. In the ocean.
    3. On the shore.
    4. In a fish market.
  3. What did the River Fish say to show he was proud of where he came from?

    1. "I am from the river!"
    2. "I love the ocean!"
    3. "I am the fastest fish!"
    4. "I am the biggest fish!"
  4. How did the fisherman treat the Sea Fish differently from the River Fish?

    1. He fed the River Fish.
    2. He caught the Sea Fish.
    3. He ignored the River Fish.
    4. He let them both go.
  5. What lesson did the Sea Fish share with the River Fish at the end of the story?

    1. "Be proud of where you are from."
    2. "Always swim fast."
    3. "Never go upstream."
    4. "Fish should stick together."
  1. What happened to the River Fish when a strong current came?
  2. Where did the River Fish find himself after the current pulled him?
  3. What did the River Fish say to show he was proud of where he came from?
  4. How did the fisherman treat the Sea Fish differently from the River Fish?
  5. What lesson did the Sea Fish share with the River Fish at the end of the story?
  1. What happened to the River Fish when a strong current came?
  2. Where did the River Fish find himself after the current pulled him?
  3. What did the River Fish say to show he was proud of where he came from?
  4. How did the fisherman treat the Sea Fish differently from the River Fish?
  5. What lesson did the Sea Fish share with the River Fish at the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the River Fish boasted about his origins to the Sea Fish?
  2. How do you think the River Fish felt when the fisherman chose the Sea Fish over him?
  3. Can you recall a time when you realized that someone's value was not determined by where they came from or how they looked?
  4. What does this story tell us about the importance of humility and not judging others based on appearances or origins?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our interactions with people who are different from us?
Fable Quotes
Humility softens the tides of arrogance and teaches us to swim in harmony.
Value isn't determined by one's surroundings, but by their inherent worth.
In the end, true worth is found not in origin or strength, but in the appreciation we receive.
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