The Walnut Tree by Aesop for English students with a video, vocabulary practice in real context, and questions for discussion
The Walnut Tree is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Walnut Tree
The Walnut Tree by Aesop
A walnut tree, which grew by the roadside, bore every year a plentiful crop of nuts.
Every one who passed by pelted its branches with sticks and stones, in order to bring down the fruit, and the tree suffered severely.
“It is hard,” it cried, “that the very persons who enjoy my fruit should thus reward me with insults and blows.”
English proverbs from the short story
Here are some proverbs that capture the theme of the fable, the Walnut Tree:
Patience is a virtue.
This proverb highlights the importance of waiting for things to come naturally, rather than resorting to force. Just like the walnut tree wouldn’t produce more nuts just because it was hit, good things often come to those who wait.
You reap what you sow.
This proverb emphasizes that our actions have consequences. In the fable, the travelers who harm the tree are essentially harming themselves by destroying the source of the nuts they want.
Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
This proverb warns against destroying something valuable just to get a quick benefit. The walnut tree provides the travelers with shade and food, and harming it is foolish in the long run.
Vocabulary in real context
- plentiful: abundant, copious, ample, lavish
- crop: plants grown for use, harvest
- pelt: to attack or harm something by throwing a lot of things at them
- severely: vehemently
- reward: to repay effort, remunerate
- blow: strike, hit, knock
1) The walnut tree is upset with the travelers in the fable, because he gave them a lot of what they was needed but they didn’t say thank you. They only insults and blows the tree.
2)The fable trying to teach us that you should always be happy, also if their isn’t a big deal.
3) The travelers shouldn’t be so greedy.
Their is always a way which harm no one. For example, surely they was also food from the tree on the floor.
– Robina
You’re absolutely right.
Feedback
The walnut tree is upset = The walnut tree was upset (use the simple past tense)
their isn’t a big deal = there isn’t a big deal
Their is always a way = There is always a way
they was also food = there was also food
„You reap what you sow.“
-as the people hit the tree to became snacks then maybe are the snacks are immature and then they became they sow what they reap
Your comment is an interpretation of the stated proverb. The villagers and strangers were too hasty, greedy and impatient. So, they overconsumed the entire fruits of the walnut tree, thereby destroying the poor tree. As a result, they had to deal with the dire consequence of their irrational action, which was equal to no more fruits or shade from the tree.
1. The walnut was upset with the travelers because of destroying it just to get nuts. So, the walnut tree harmed severely.
2. This story warns us to be responsive to our actions. As you read, the travelers were impervious and impenetrable in their behavior to get the fruits.
3. Yes, the travelers can wait for nuts to come down naturally, rather than harming the walnut tree and resorting to force.
Thanks for your comment on the walnut tree story.
Feedback
1. The walnut was upset = The walnut tree was upset
2. the walnut tree was harmed severely
1. The walnut tree is upset because passing travelers threw and pelted stones at the tree in order to catch the fruits.
2. From the fable, I come to the conclusion that we should be responsible and protect the valuable sources of nature, avoiding hurting and destroying them for our own quick pleasures.
3. They could have picked the fruits without throwing stones, or they could have bought the fruits from the locals.
As you wisely stated, the walnut tree fable by Aesop teaches us the moral of expressing our genuine gratitude and appreciation of the blessings we already have. Likewise, the story despised any destructive behavior toward nature and generally any act of ingratitude.