Journeys Through Bookland Volume X Part 19

A. _The Plot._ The slow Tortoise and the speedy Hare ran a race. The Hare, full of conceit, loitered and slept by the way, while the Tortoise won in his plodding fashion.

Incidents:

1. The Hare derides the Tortoise.

2. The Tortoise challenges the Hare.

3. The Fox becomes judge and holds the stakes.

4. The race begins in heat and dust.

5. The Hare takes a rest and a nap.

6. The Tortoise in comfort pa.s.ses the Hare.

7. The Hare awakes, thinks the Tortoise behind, and stops to eat.

8. The Hare discovers that the Tortoise has pa.s.sed and begins his pursuit.

9. The Hare finds the Tortoise at the brook.

10. The Fox awards the money to the Tortoise.

B. _The Persons._ There are three characters in the story: the Hare, the Tortoise and the Fox.

1. The Hare. He is a small, long-legged animal, who can leap long distances and run like the wind. In character he is unkind, impudent, proud and lazy.

2. The Tortoise. He is a clumsy, short-legged turtle, who carries a heavy box-sh.e.l.l around his body. He cannot jump at all, and he moves very slowly, flat on the ground, even his tail dragging in the dust.

But he is wise, steady, not easily discouraged, and sticks to his task till it is done.

3. The Fox. He is a wise old judge, who cannot let the loser go without a word of advice.

C. _The Scene._ The race takes place along a dusty road on a hot day.

There is a big clover patch, where the Hare rests, and at the end of the course is a cool and delightful brook or river.

D. _The Author's Purpose and the Lesson._ The author of this old fable intended to teach the lesson that he puts into the last sentence, "Steady-going wins the race."

E. _The Method and Style of the Author._ His method is to teach a truth by means of an interesting story. His style is graphic and dramatic. He gives three animals the power to talk, and he makes them talk so that they seem almost like real human beings. At any rate, he makes us see the character of each very clearly.

F. _Emotions._ We see in the Hare the feelings of conceit, contempt, and laziness; of surprise, fear, and excitement; of chagrin and disappointment. In the Tortoise we see a little of resentment and some self-confidence; then courage, determination, and persistence; at last, calm enjoyment and joy at winning. The Fox looks on as we do, and has confidence in the Tortoise and a little spice of contempt for the Hare.

Then he is pleased that the Tortoise should win, and enjoys giving the Hare a stinging bit of advice.

G. _Conclusion._ It is because the little fable has so much in it that it has lived for centuries, and you have only to speak to any cultivated person about the Hare and the Tortoise to remind him that "Steady-going wins the race."

The preceding a.n.a.lysis shows what a parent should expect to bring out from a little child, reading the fable for the first time, or from an older boy or girl making a careful study of fables. In both cases, however, the facts should be brought out by questions, with the expectation that the juveniles would not express themselves in anything like the words given above.

_The Fox and the Crow_

(Volume I, page 64)

The following a.n.a.lysis of _The Fox and the Crow_ shows the method as it might appear in actual use with small children. It should be remembered, however, that no two persons will ask the same questions and that no two children will answer them in the same manner. Bring out the thoughts and keep the children interested while it is being done. Rapid, clearcut questions which do not suggest the answer are the kind to use. Whenever there is hesitation or doubt, refer to the story. The story, plus the child's imagination and reason, must give the answers. If other facts are needed, the questioner should supply them or show where they may be learned.

A. _The Plot._

Question. What was the first thing that happened in this little story?

Answer. The Fox saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its mouth.

Q. What next?

A. The Crow lit on a branch of a tree.

Q. Next?

A. The Fox made up his mind to get the cheese.

Q. What did he do then?

A. He walked to the foot of the tree.

Q. What next did he do?

A. He flattered the Crow and asked her to sing.

Q. What did the Crow do?

A. She cawed and dropped the cheese.

Q. What did the Fox do?

A. He snapped up the cheese and ran off.

Q. Did he do anything more?

A. Yes. He gave the Crow some advice.

Q. Now tell me the story in as few words as possible.

A. A Fox saw a Crow with some cheese in her mouth. He flattered her and asked her to sing. When she cawed she dropped the cheese and the Fox ran away with it.

B. _The Persons._

Question. Can a Fox talk, or a Crow sing?

Answer. No.

Q. Do they seem like persons in this story?

A. Yes.

Q. Let us think of them as persons, and see what kind of people they are. We will talk about the Fox, first. What do you think he looked like?

A. Like a saucy little dog with bright eyes, a long sharp nose, and a bushy tail.

Q. When he said, "That's for me," what did you learn about him?