The Kid on the Housetop by Aesop for ESL students with a video, vocabulary practice in real context, and questions for discussion based on the English Immersion Program
The Kid on the Housetop is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Kid on the Housetop
The Kid on the Housetop
A kid climbed up on to the roof of an outhouse, attracted by the grass and other things that grew in the thatch; and as he stood there browsing away, he caught sight of a wolf passing below, and jeered at him because he couldn’t reach him.
The wolf only looked up and said, “I hear you, my young friend; but it is not you who mock me, but the roof on which you are standing.”
English proverbs from the short story
Pride comes before a fall.
This proverb aligns with the theme of the story, where the boy’s arrogance and sense of security on the roof ultimately lead to a confrontation with the wolf. The proverb suggests that excessive pride or self-confidence can often lead to negative consequences.
Vocabulary in real context
- outhouse: outbuilding, a small building situated near the main building on a property, outdoor toilet
- thatch: plant materials, e.g. straw and rushes, used as roofing on a house
- browse: to look through or over something casually, glance, surf
- catch sight of: to get a view of, spot, glimpse, notice, perceive
- jeer at: to laugh at, mock, boo, taunt
- mock: to ridicule, tease, make fun of, jeer at, scorn, scoff at, poke fun at
Questions for discussion
- How did the boy’s actions lead to a confrontation with the wolf?
- What was the wolf’s response to the boy’s mockery?
- What was the underlying message or moral of the story?
