The Ant and the Grasshopper, alternatively titled The Grasshopper and the Ant (or Ants ), is one of Aesop's Fables, numbered 373 in the Perry Index. The fable describes how a hungry grasshopper begs for food from an ant when winter comes and is refused. The situation sums up moral lessons about the virtues of hard work and planning for the future.
Full Answer
What is the meaning of the ant and the grasshopper story?
Every story focuses on some important life lesson. The ant and the grasshopper tale is one such story that talks about hard work, planning for the future, and adding meaning to life. This story has a moral and is sure to make your kids ask you many interesting questions. Let’s take a look! Origin And History Of The Ant And The Grasshopper Story
What does the grasshopper begs at the ant's door?
The Grasshopper begs at the Ant's door. Art by Charles H. Bennet (1857). The Ant and the Grasshopper, alternatively titled The Grasshopper and the Ant (or Ants ), is one of Aesop's Fables, numbered 373 in the Perry Index. The fable describes how a hungry grasshopper begs for food from an ant when winter comes and is refused.
What happens to the Grasshopper at the end of the story?
In the end the ants take pity on the grasshopper on certain conditions. The Queen of the Ants decrees that the grasshopper may stay, but he must play his fiddle in return for his room and board. He agrees to this arrangement, finally learning that he needs to make himself useful, and 'changes his tune' to Oh I owe the world a living....
Why is the language in the ants and the grasshopper difficult?
ELLs may find it challenging to process some of the language in "The Ants and the Grasshopper" because it contains some long sentences that are dense with information. Consider guiding students through the Mini Language Dive provided in Meeting Students' Needs. During Work Time B, encourage students to be the "director" in their groups.
What is the moral of "The Ant and the Grasshopper"?
The moral of ''The Ant and the Grasshopper'' fable is that people should strike a balance between work and play, if they want to be prepared for th...
What did the grasshopper learn in "The Ant and the Grasshopper"?
In ''The Ant and the Grasshopper'' fable, the grasshopper learns the value of hard work and the importance of thinking about the future. When the g...
What can the ant learn from the grasshopper?
In the ant vs. grasshopper fable, the grasshopper mainly learns from the ants. However, the ant can also learn an important lesson from the grassho...
Fable and counter-fable
The fable concerns a grasshopper (in the original, a cicada) that has spent the summer singing while the ant (or ants in some versions) worked to store up food for winter. When that season arrives, the grasshopper finds itself dying of hunger and begs the ant for food. However, the ant rebukes its idleness and tells it to dance the winter away now.
In art
Because of the influence of La Fontaine's Fables, in which La cigale et la fourmi stands at the beginning, the cicada then became the proverbial example of improvidence in France: so much so that Jules-Joseph Lefebvre (1836–1911) could paint a picture of a female nude biting one of her nails among the falling leaves and be sure viewers would understand the point by giving it the title La Cigale.
Later adaptations
La Fontaine's portrayal of the Ant as a flawed character, reinforced by the ambivalence of the alternative fable, led to that insect too being viewed as anything but an example of virtue.
Musical settings
La Fontaine's version of the fable was set by the following French composers:
Moral and artistic debate
La Fontaine follows ancient sources in his 17th century retelling of the fable, where the ant suggests at the end that since the grasshopper has sung all summer she should now dance for its entertainment. However, his only direct criticism of the ant is that it lacked generosity.
External links
"The Ant and the Grasshopper". Prints & Books. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
Who wrote the fable about the grasshopper and the ant?
This fable is written by Aesop. The story tells about the grasshopper and the ant’s life during the summer. Also, what will happen to them when winter comes. We will be learning a lot of lessons and realizations from start until the end of the story.
Who is Aesop?
Before exactly reading the story let us know a little about the author first.
What page is the Ants and the grasshopper?
Story Elements and Central Message Student Notes: "The Ants and the Grasshopper" (page 7 of the Fables and Folktales response notebook)
Why are the supports in this lesson and Lesson 7 similar to the supports in Lessons 2-3 and Lessons 4-5?
The supports in this lesson and Lesson 7 are similar to the supports in Lessons 2-3 and Lessons 4-5 because the tasks mirror one another. Based on student performance in prior lessons, consider releasing students from some of the supports applied in those lessons to foster independence and to assess student progress.
How does the basic design of this lesson support ELLs?
The basic design of this lesson supports ELLs by providing opportunities for movement and for fluency practice during the Role-Play protocol.
Overview
The Ant and the Grasshopper, alternatively titled The Grasshopper and the Ant (or Ants), is one of Aesop's Fables, numbered 373 in the Perry Index. The fable describes how a hungry grasshopper begs for food from an ant when winter comes and is refused. The situation sums up moral lessons about the virtues of hard work and planning for the future.
Even in Classical times, however, the advice was mistrusted by some and an alternative story re…
Fable and counter-fable
The fable concerns a grasshopper (in the original, a cicada) that has spent the summer singing and dancing while the ant (or ants in some versions) worked to store up food for winter. When winter arrives, the grasshopper finds itself dying of hunger and begs the ant for food. However, the ant rebukes its idleness and tells it to dance the winter away now. Versions of the fable are found in the verse collections of Babrius (140) and Avianus (34), and in several prose collections including …
In art
Because of the influence of La Fontaine's Fables, in which La cigale et la fourmi stands at the beginning, the grasshopper then became the proverbial example of improvidence in France: so much so that Jules-Joseph Lefebvre (1836–1911) could paint a picture of a female nude biting one of her nails among the falling leaves and be sure viewers would understand the point by giving it the title La Cigale. The painting was exhibited at the 1872 Salon with a quotation from La Fontai…
Later adaptations
La Fontaine's portrayal of the Ant as a flawed character, reinforced by the ambivalence of the alternative fable, led to that insect too being viewed as anything but an example of virtue. Jules Massenet's two-act ballet Cigale, first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1904, portrays the cicada as a charitable woman who takes pity on "La Pauvrette" (the poor little one). But La Pauvrette, after being taken in and fed, is rude and heartless when the situation is reversed. Ciga…
Musical settings
La Fontaine's version of the fable was set by the following French composers:
• Louis-Nicolas Clérambault, to whom the works in the fables section of Nouvelles poésies spirituelles et morales sur les plus beaux airs (1730–37) have been attributed. The text is modified to fit the tune and is retitled La fourmi et la sauterelle.
• Jacques Offenbach in Six Fables de La Fontaine (1842) for soprano and small orchestra
Moral and artistic debate
La Fontaine follows ancient sources in his 17th century retelling of the fable, where the ant suggests at the end that since the grasshopper has sung all summer she should now dance for its entertainment. However, his only direct criticism of the ant is that it lacked generosity. The Grasshopper had asked for a loan which it promised to pay back with interest, but "The Ant had a failing,/She wasn't a lender".
See also
• The Fly and the Ant
• The Little Red Hen, a folk tale with a similar moral
External links
• "The Ant and the Grasshopper". Prints & Books. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
• "The Ant and the Grasshopper", 15th-20th century book illustrations
• "The Grasshopper and the Ants", 15th-20th century book and manuscript illustrations