The Swollen Fox by Aesop for English students with a video, list of English vocabulary and some questions for discussion
The Swollen Fox is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Swollen Fox
The Swollen Fox
A hungry fox found in a hollow oak tree a quantity of bread and meat, which some shepherds had placed there against their return.
Delighted with his find, he slipped in through the narrow aperture and greedily devoured it all. But when he tried to get out again, he found himself so swollen after his big meal that he could not squeeze through the hole, and fell to whining and groaning over his misfortune.
Another fox, happening to pass that way, came and asked him what the matter was; and, on learning the state of the case, said, “Well, my friend, I see nothing for it but for you to stay where you are till you shrink to your former size; you’ll get out then easily enough.”
English proverbs from the short story
Less is more.
This proverb captures the idea that being content with what you have is better than overindulging and facing negative consequences.
Greed gets you stuck.
This emphasizes how greed can lead to difficult situations that you struggle to escape from.
You can only take out what you put in.
This proverb highlights that sometimes getting out of a situation requires moderation, similar to how the fox had to shrink back down to fit through the opening.
One’s eyes are bigger than one’s stomach.
This proverb perfectly captures the situation the fox found himself in – his desire (eyes) for the delicious food outweighed his capacity (stomach) and his confined situation to handle them all.
Vocabulary in real context
- hollow: empty, void, unfilled
- quantity: number, amount
- against their return: in anticipation of their return
- aperture: opening, hole, space
- devour: to eat something greedily
- swollen: distended, enlarged, inflated, inflamed
- whine: to complain peevishly, moan, wail, groan
- shrink: to become smaller, reduce in size
- former: previous
Questions and answers
Answer the following questions in the comment box below to receive feedback from us:
1- The fox found a quantity of bread and meat that man’s had placed in a hollow oak tree.
2- The fox desire for the delicious food outweighed his stomach so that he could not squeeze through the hole in tree.
3- The another fox advised the swollen fox that he must wait in the hollow of the tree until he shrink to his former size. Perhaps, the swollen fox’s greed lead to his death.
Thank you for commenting.
Feedback
1. that man’s had placed = the shepherds (plural) or the men had placed …
2. The fox desire = The fox’s desire …
3. The another fox = The other fox
4. he shrink to his former size = he shrinks / shrank (simple past tense) to his former size
5. the swollen fox’s greed lead to his death. = the swollen fox’s greed led to his death.
1. The hungry fox found in a hollow oak tree a quantity of bread and meat, which some shepherds had placed there against their return.
2 . Because the fox found himself so swollen that he couldn’t squeeze from the hole.
3 . The other fox advice was that you should wait until you shrink and get on your former size.
Thank you for elaborating on the plot of this Aesop’s fable, i.e. the swollen fox with the central themes of greed and gluttony.
I am aware of the fact that this fable wants to make this point of not being greedy. And just like this proverb highlights ( less is more), be satisfied with what you already have. However I do not completely agree with that. Obviously we should be cautious and consider consequences, but there is nothing wrong with wanting more.
You’re absolutely right. Greed or avarice should not be mistaken for pursuing your normal and legitimate dreams or goals and getting better and better in life.
Please attempt to reinterpret at least one of the proverbs brought up in this short story by linking it/them to the plot of this fable.
Greed gets you stuck—-> The first part that the fox squeeze himself in the hole to eat the bread and meat that was for the shepherds.
That’s correct. The greedy fox fell into the trap by not looking before leaping. The fox was expected to consider all the possible dangers and consequences of this tricky action, that is, getting into the hole of the oak tree for the food.