Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Grasshopper and the Ants explained
In winter, the Ants dry their corn after a rainy spell.
What happens
In winter, the Ants dry their corn after a rainy spell. A starving Grasshopper begs for food, but the Ants rebuke her for not storing provisions during summer, instead spending her time singing. They refuse her request, telling her to dance through winter as she sang through summer.
Themes in this chapter
Perseverance and Effort
The Ants exemplify diligence by working to store food, contrasting with the Grasshopper's neglect.
Wisdom and Foolishness
The Grasshopper's foolishness in prioritizing singing over preparation is met with the Ants' wise rebuke.
Characters to notice
- The Grasshopper
Begs the Ants for food after failing to prepare for winter, having spent summer singing.
- The Ants
Diligently dry their corn and refuse to share with the Grasshopper, emphasizing the value of hard work and preparation.
Key passages
“If you spent the summer singing, replied the Ants, you can’t do better than spend the winter dancing.”
Since you wasted summer on pleasure, you must now face the consequences of your idleness.
The Ants' retort underscores the moral that leisure without labor leads to hardship.