The Fox and the Stork from Aesop for ESL Students

The Fox and the Stork from Aesop’s fables for advanced ESL students with video and list of new vocabulary

The Fox and the Stork is now in the public domain available at: Gutenberg Project

Video of the Fox and the Stork

The Fox and the Stork

A fox invited a stork to dinner, at which the only fare provided was a large flat dish of soup.

• stork: a large wading bird with a long beak
• fare: food that is provided

The fox lapped it up with great relish, but the stork with her long bill tried in vain to partake of the savory broth.

• lapped it up: swallowed it
• relish: enjoyment, pleasure
• partake: eat or drink something
• savory: appetizing, tasty

Her evident distress caused the sly fox much amusement.

• evident: obvious
• distress: trouble, suffering
• sly: crafty, cunning

But not long after the stork invited him in turn, and set before him a pitcher with a long and narrow neck, into which she could get her bill with ease.

• pitcher: a single-handled container or jug for liquids

Thus, while she enjoyed her dinner, the fox sat by hungry and helpless, for it was impossible for him to reach the tempting contents of the vessel.

• helpless: needing help, powerless
• tempting: causing desire or craving
• vessel: container, pot, bowl, pitcher