The Fawn and His Mother by Aesop for ESL students with a video, vocabulary in real context, questions for discussion and the moral of the story
The Fawn and His Mother is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Fawn and His Mother
The Fawn and His Mother
A hind said to her fawn, who was now well grown and strong, “My son, Nature has given you a powerful body and a stout pair of horns, and I can’t think why you are such a coward as to run away from the hounds.”
Just then they both heard the sound of a pack in full cry, but at a considerable distance. “You stay where you are,” said the hind; “never mind me”: and with that she ran off as fast as her legs could carry her.
English proverbs from the short story
Do as I say, not as I do.
This proverb directly mirrors the hind’s hypocritical behavior, advising bravery while acting cowardly.
This proverb relates to the fawn’s fear overcoming his strength, highlighting the power of fear in influencing behavior.
Vocabulary in real context
- hind (Noun): female deer
- fawn: young deer
- stout: strong, sturdy, substantial
- coward: someone who lacks courage
- hound: dog bred for hunting
- pack: horde, crowd, flock, group
- distance: length between two things
Moral of the short story
- Actions speak louder than words. The hind’s advice to her fawn is undermined by her own cowardly behavior.
- Hypocrisy is a dangerous trait. The hind’s hypocrisy in preaching bravery while acting cowardly is a negative example.
- Fear can overcome even the strongest. Despite the fawn’s physical strength, fear prevents him from confronting the hounds.
As the proverb ” Do as I say, not as I do” mentions, we must not say something that we ourselves don’t do. And if we advise someone, we must be willing to do the same.
I also thought of the proverb that reads: “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.