The Raven and the Fox — Class 6 English (Poorvi)
"Ha-ha!" laughed the Fox. "And now, you know — ignore sweet words that make you proud, or you will lose what you have." — Reynard the Fox
1. About the Poem
This is the second chapter of Unit 1: Fables and Folk Tales in the Poorvi textbook. It is a poem based on one of Aesop's most famous fables — "The Fox and the Crow" — retold here in rhyme. A raven holding food in his beak is flattered by a cunning fox, who tricks him into singing — and dropping his meal.
Why This Poem
- Teaches awareness of FLATTERY
- Shows how PRIDE can make us foolish
- Classic fable form — story + moral
- Short, memorable, easy to recite
2. Characters
Mr Raven
- Perched on a tree limb
- Holding a tasty morsel in his "great big beak"
- Proud of his appearance
- Fooled by the fox's flattery
- Forgets his voice is just a croak
Reynard the Fox
- Cunning and clever
- Wants the raven's food
- Uses flattery as his weapon
- Admiring tones: "Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird"
- Laughs and teaches the raven a lesson
3. The Poem (from NCERT Poorvi Textbook)
Mr Raven was perched upon a limb, And Reynard the Fox looked up at him; For the Raven held in his great big beak, A morsel the Fox would go far to seek.
Said the Fox, in admiring tones: "My word! Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird. Such feathers! If you would only sing, The birds of these woods would call you King."
The Raven, who did not see the joke, Forgot that his voice was just a croak. He opened his beak, in his foolish pride — And down fell the morsel the Fox had eyed.
"Ha-ha!" laughed the Fox. "And now, you know — Ignore sweet words that make you proud, Or you will lose what you have."
4. What Happens in the Poem (Summary)
- Setting: Mr Raven sits on a tree branch holding food in his beak
- The Fox's Plan: Reynard the Fox sees the food and wants it. He decides to use flattery
- The Flattery: The Fox praises the Raven — calls him handsome, says his feathers are beautiful, says he would be "King" of the birds if only he would sing
- The Trap Works: The Raven, feeling proud, forgets his voice is just a croak. He opens his beak to sing
- Down Falls the Food: As soon as he opens his beak, the morsel drops — and the Fox grabs it
- The Lesson: The Fox laughs and tells the Raven: don't be fooled by sweet words
5. Moral of the Poem
Beware of Flattery
The fox didn't attack the raven. He didn't climb the tree. He used WORDS. Sweet, admiring words that made the raven feel special. And that was enough to make the raven drop his guard — and his food.
Pride Comes Before a Fall
The raven was so pleased by the praise that he forgot the most basic fact about himself: his voice is a croak, not a song. Pride made him foolish.
Think Before You Act
If the raven had paused for a moment and thought — "Wait, is this fox really my friend? Does he really care about my singing?" — he would have kept his food.
6. Important Lines
"Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird. Such feathers! If you would only sing, the birds of these woods would call you King."
"The Raven, who did not see the joke, forgot that his voice was just a croak."
"He opened his beak, in his foolish pride — and down fell the morsel the Fox had eyed."
7. What We Learn
| Value | How the Poem Shows It |
|---|---|
| Don't Trust Flattery | The fox's praise was fake — he only wanted the food |
| Stay Humble | Pride made the raven forget his own limitations |
| Think Critically | The raven didn't question WHY the fox was suddenly so admiring |
| Actions Have Consequences | One moment of foolish pride → lost his meal |
8. Important Vocabulary
- PERCHED: sat on something high (like a branch)
- LIMB: a branch of a tree
- MORSEL: a small piece of food
- ADMIRING: showing praise or approval
- CROAK: the rough, harsh sound a raven makes
- FOOLISH: silly, not wise
- PRIDE: too high an opinion of oneself
- FLATTERY: praising someone insincerely to get something from them
- REYNARD: a traditional name for a fox in fables
9. Activities
Activity 1: Reading Aloud
Recite the poem aloud with expression. Use a deep, proud voice for the Raven and a smooth, flattering voice for the Fox. Notice how the tone changes when the Fox laughs.
Activity 2: Comprehension
- Where was the Raven sitting?
- What was the Raven holding in his beak?
- What did the Fox say to flatter the Raven?
- Why did the Raven open his beak?
- What happened when the Raven opened his beak?
Activity 3: Discussion
Why do people use flattery? Have you ever been praised for something in a way that felt fake? How can you tell the difference between genuine praise and flattery?
Activity 4: Creative Writing
Imagine you are the Raven. Write a diary entry for that day. What were you thinking when the Fox praised you? How did you feel after you dropped the food?
Activity 5: Compare and Connect
This poem is based on Aesop's fable "The Fox and the Crow." Both teach the same lesson. Why do you think this story has been told and retold for over 2,500 years? What makes it timeless?
10. Worked Examples
Example 1: How did the Fox trick the Raven?
- The Fox did not use force — he used WORDS
- He called the Raven "Sir Raven" (showing false respect)
- He praised the Raven's appearance: "You are a handsome bird"
- He praised the Raven's feathers
- He suggested the Raven could be "King" of the birds — IF he sang
- This appealed to the Raven's pride and vanity
- The Raven forgot his voice was a croak and opened his beak
- The food dropped — and the Fox got what he wanted
Example 2: Why did the Raven fall for the trick?
- The Raven was PROUD — he liked hearing nice things about himself
- He didn't stop to think about WHO was praising him (a fox, a natural enemy)
- He didn't remember his own limitation — his voice is a croak
- Pride clouded his judgment — he acted without thinking
Example 3: What is the difference between a compliment and flattery?
- A genuine compliment: given freely, with no hidden motive. "You did well on that test!"
- Flattery: excessive praise given to GET something. "You're the smartest person in the whole world! Now, can you do my homework?"
- Key test: Does the person want something FROM you? If yes, be careful — it might be flattery
11. About Fables
This poem belongs to the fable tradition — short stories that teach a moral lesson. Aesop's fables (ancient Greece, ~600 BCE) are the most famous collection. "The Fox and the Crow" has been retold in dozens of languages over thousands of years.
Features of Fables
- Short and simple
- Often feature animals as characters
- End with a clear moral or lesson
- Universal — the lesson applies to all people, in all times
Other Famous Aesop's Fables
- The Tortoise and the Hare (slow and steady wins)
- The Lion and the Mouse (kindness is never wasted)
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf (liars are not believed)
- The Ant and the Grasshopper (prepare today for tomorrow)
12. Conclusion
"The Raven and the Fox" is a short poem with a sharp lesson. In just a few lines, it shows how pride makes us vulnerable — and how flattery is one of the oldest tricks in the book. The fox didn't need claws or teeth. He just needed words.
The raven's mistake is one we all make sometimes: believing praise that is too good to be true. The poem reminds us to stay humble, think critically, and ask ourselves: "Does this person mean what they say, or do they want something from me?"
In a world full of sweet words, the raven's story teaches us: keep your beak shut — and your eyes open.
