Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 7: The Raven and the Fox

by Jean de La Fontaine

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle


Mr. Raven was perched upon a limb,

And Reynard the Fox looked up at him;

For the Raven held in his great big beak

A morsel the Fox would go far to seek.



Said the Fox, in admiring tones: "My word!

Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird.

Such feathers! If you would only sing,

The birds of these woods would call you King."



The Raven, who did not see the joke,

Forgot that his voice was just a croak.

He opened his beak, in his foolish pride-

And down fell the morsel the Fox had spied.



"Ha-ha!" said the Fox. "And now you see

You should not listen to flattery.

Vanity, Sir is a horrid vice-

I'm sure the lesson is worth the price."

story image

    Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 7: The Raven and the Fox

by Jean de La Fontaine

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the poem.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

A raven up in a tree holds a tasty treat in his beak that a fox would like to eat. The fox falsely flatters the bird, inciting the raven to sing, even though ravens make ugly caws. When the raven squawks, the tasty morsel falls into the fox's mouth.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

  • Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem. Instructors may need to prompt children line-by-line.

Activity 2: Study the Poem's Pictures

  • Study the pictures and describe them in your own words.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

  • After reading or listening to the poem, narrate the poem events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 10 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 5: Create Novel Artwork Based on the Poem

  • One day this week, create artwork showing a raven up in a tree.
  • Use paints, crayons, pastels, Legos, blocks, or Play-Doh to create the artwork.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?
1 / 5

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'The Raven and the Fox.'
1 / 5

Question 2

What happens in the poem?
2 / 5

Answer 2

A fox falsely flatters a raven into dropping a tasty morsel, which the fox gobbles up.
2 / 5

Question 3

Where does the poem take place?
3 / 5

Answer 3

The poem takes place outdoors, in and under a tree.
3 / 5

Question 4

Who are the characters in the poem?
4 / 5

Answer 4

The raven and the fox.
4 / 5

Question 5

Does the poem teach us anything?
5 / 5

Answer 5

Be wary of false flattery. Know your own strengths and weaknesses.
5 / 5

  1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'The Raven and the Fox.'
  2. What happens in the poem? A fox falsely flatters a raven into dropping a tasty morsel, which the fox gobbles up.
  3. Where does the poem take place? The poem takes place outdoors, in and under a tree.
  4. Who are the characters in the poem? The raven and the fox.
  5. Does the poem teach us anything? Be wary of false flattery. Know your own strengths and weaknesses.