Aesop Fables – The Ox and the frogs
This children’s short story called “The Ox and the frogs” is a very famous and old tale which talks about how one must not try and boast and do something which one can never do.
The story
Once upon a time, there lived a family of frogs in a pond. There was papa Frog with fat belly and loud croak. Mama Frog had large beautiful eyes. Brother Frog had a very long tongue. There was sister Frog with her long nails.
Also, there were many baby frogs. Grandpa frog always used to read the newspaper. Grandma frog loved to bake. They were a very happy family of frogs.
One day, a large ox came to the pond to drink water. SPLAAAASH he walked straight into the pond and drank water. Papa frog and brother frog had gone to work in the fields. All the other frogs had gone to the shop to buy cakes. Only the baby frogs saw the Ox for the first time.
“Woow. You are so big” said one of the baby frogs to the Ox.
“Hello, baby frog. Yes I am very big” said the ox proudly.
“Who are you” asked the baby frog.
“I am the Ox, strong and powerful. I pull the carts for my friend, the farmer”
“Wow. That huge cart over there”, said the baby frog amazed.
“Yes. I can pull it easily even if 10 men sat in it” said the ox proudly.
“There is no bigger animal than the Ox” said one of the baby frogs.
“Indeed”, said all the baby frogs together.
“You are right!” said the Ox.
In the evening when all the frogs came back home, the baby frogs were very excited.
“What happened here? Why are you all excited?” asked papa frog.
“We saw an Ox. He is the biggest animal in the entire world” said one of the baby frogs.
“Hmm. Big was he? Is he bigger than me?” said Papa frog loudly.
“Yes. He is so much bigger” said the baby frog.
Papa frog pulled in his breath and puffed himself up.
“Is he still bigger than me?” said Papa frog loudly.
“Yes. He is so much bigger” said the baby frog.
Papa frog pulled in his breath even more and puffed himself up.
“Is he still bigger than me?” said Papa frog loudly.
“Yes. He is so much bigger” said the baby frog.
Papa frog pulled in his breath even more with great difficulty. He puffed himself up to his biggest size.
“Is he still bigger than me?” said Papa frog loudly.
“Yes. He is so much bigger” said the baby frog.
Papa frog pulled in his breath one last time. He puffed himself up so much that he exploded.
The moral of the story “The Ox and the Frogs:
The moral of the ox and the frogs story is: Do not attempt the impossible.
Questions and answers
- Who is the biggest in this story?
- How many frogs are talking in this story?
- Who is boasting in the ox and the frogs?
- What is the moral of the story?
- Is the ox bigger than the frog?
