Green Forest Stories · Chapter
Two Foolish-Feeling Little Bears explained
Boxer and Woof-Woof, the twin cubs of Buster Bear, feel foolish after losing their tempers and fighting each other while trying to catch Peter Rabbit, who escapes and laughs at them.
What happens
Boxer and Woof-Woof, the twin cubs of Buster Bear, feel foolish after losing their tempers and fighting each other while trying to catch Peter Rabbit, who escapes and laughs at them. Mother Bear scolds them, teaching that losing one's temper leads to losing more, and that fighting over nothing is unwise.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom and Experience
Peter Rabbit learns to avoid danger, and the cubs learn that losing their temper leads to losing more than just a fight.
Friendship and Cooperation
The cubs' lack of cooperation leads to their failure; Mother Bear emphasizes that fighting over nothing is unwise.
Characters to notice
- Boxer
One of the twin cubs; feels foolish after fighting with his sister and losing Peter Rabbit.
- Woof Woof
The other twin cub; also feels foolish and rubs her sore nose after the fight.
- Peter Rabbit
Escapes the cubs by tricking them into fighting; chuckles and resolves to avoid that part of the Green Forest.
- Mother Bear
Scolds the twins for fighting, teaching them a lesson about temper and wisdom.
Key passages
“People who lose their tempers lose their wits with them”
When you get angry, you stop thinking clearly.
Peter Rabbit's reflection on the cubs' behavior.
“It never pays to fight excepting for your rights, but the one who will not fight for his rights never will get far in the Great World.”
Fighting is only worthwhile when defending what is rightfully yours; those who never stand up for themselves will not succeed.
Mother Bear's lesson to the twins about when fighting is appropriate.