The Jackdaw and the Pigeons by Aesop for ESL students with a video or podcast, vocabulary practice in real context, and questions for discussion
The Jackdaw and the Pigeons is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Jackdaw and the Pigeons
The Jackdaw and the Pigeons
A jackdaw, watching some pigeons in a farmyard, was filled with envy when he saw how well they were fed, and determined to disguise himself as one of them, in order to secure a share of the good things they enjoyed.
So he painted himself white from head to foot and joined the flock; and, so long as he was silent, they never suspected that he was not a pigeon like themselves.
But one day, he was unwise enough to start chattering, when they at once saw through his disguise and pecked him so unmercifully that he was glad to escape and join his own kind again.
But the other jackdaws did not recognize him in his white dress, and would not let him feed with them, but drove him away: and so he became a homeless wanderer for his pains.
English proverbs from the short story
Here are two English proverbs related to the Aesop’s fable, The Jackdaw and the Pigeons:
This proverb means that people who are similar in some way tend to associate with each other. In the fable, the jackdaw wanted to fit in with the pigeons, but ultimately couldn’t because he wasn’t truly one of them.
You can’t fool all the people all the time.
This proverb means that it is impossible to deceive everyone forever. The jackdaw’s disguise eventually failed, revealing his true nature.
Vocabulary in real context
- jackdaw: a medium-sized noisy black bird of the crow family known for stealing things
- envy: jealousy
- disguise: something done to prevent recognition, camouflage, concealment
- flock: group of birds
- unwise: foolish, imprudent
- chatter: talk, babble, chat
- peck: to strike or hit something or someone with beak
- unmercifully: relentlessly, brutally, cruelly, severely
- recognize: identify
- wanderer: nomad, traveler
1- The jackdaw saw some pigeons in a farmyard. The pigeons had a good food to eat. So, the jackdaw joined the pigeons to feed with them for more convenience in his life.
2- The jackdaw forgot his sound was not like the pigeons. Therefore, when the jackdaw unconsciously started chattering with other, they recognized him.
3- In this story, the jackdaw left his group to gain the better position in terms of convenience. But, in the end, the jackdaw also lost what he had. The jackdaw could enjoy with his flock without any change or pretense.
Thanks for your comment on the fable, The Jackdaw and the Pigeons.
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1. a good food = good / decent food
2. to feed with them = to enjoy the food / to feast on the food with them (Feed is transitive and requires an object.)
3. was not like the pigeons = was not like the pigeons’ (sound)
4. with other = with others
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