Green Meadow Stories · Chapter
Patience and Impatience explained
Reddy Fox demonstrates patience while hunting fat hens near the farmhouse, knowing that rushing would spoil his chances.
What happens
Reddy Fox demonstrates patience while hunting fat hens near the farmhouse, knowing that rushing would spoil his chances. Blacky the Crow watches impatiently from a tree, eager for Reddy to catch a hen so he can benefit. The chapter contrasts Reddy's learned patience with Blacky's impatience.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom and Heedlessness
Reddy Fox's patient waiting is contrasted with Blacky the Crow's impatience, highlighting the wisdom of patience and the heedlessness of rushing.
Characters to notice
- Reddy Fox
Reddy Fox lies patiently behind a fallen tree and then behind a pile of old boards, waiting to catch a fat hen without alarming the others.
- Blacky the Crow
Blacky the Crow sits impatiently in a tall tree, watching Reddy and wishing he would act quickly.
Key passages
“Patience is a virtue In a cause that’s right. In a cause that isn’t, It’s a cause for fright.”
Patience is good when you are working for a just cause, but if the cause is wrong, patience only leads to trouble.
Opening verse sets the theme of patience versus impatience.
“Reddy knew that often even his cleverness would not succeed without patience.”
Reddy understood that being clever is not enough; he also needed to be patient to succeed.
Highlights Reddy's learned wisdom.
“Blacky was as impatient as Reddy was patient.”
Blacky's impatience matched the level of Reddy's patience, creating a stark contrast.
Direct comparison of the two characters' attitudes.