The Two Foxes, the Mole, and the Crows

Name: The Two Foxes, the Mole, and the Crows
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain

The story revolves around a group of animals who form an unlikely alliance to achieve their goals. Two cunning foxes join forces with a clever mole and a murder of crows to outsmart a group of hunters. The foxes use their speed and agility, while the mole provides underground knowledge and the crows offer aerial support. Through their combined efforts, they successfully evade capture and even manage to turn the tables on their pursuers. The story highlights the benefits of cooperation and strategic planning in achieving success.

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1899 · Genre: Children's Literature, Adventure, Animal Fiction · 738 words

First lines

Two brother foxes consulted together thus: "It would be fun for us to go down among men, and assume human shape." So they made treasures and they made garments out of the leaves of various trees, and they made various things to eat and cakes out of the gum which comes out of trees. But the mole[-god] saw them making all these preparations. So the mole made a place like a human village, and placed himself in it under the disguise of a very old man. The foxes came to that village; they came to the very old man's house. And the mole himself made beautiful treasures and made garments out of various herbs and leaves of trees; and, taking mulberries and grapes from the tops of the trees, he made good food. On the arrival of the foxes, the mole invited all the crows in the place and all sorts of birds. He gave them human shape, and placed them as owners in the houses of the village. Then the mole, as chief of the village, was a very old man.

What this Textopian page supports

The Two Foxes, the Mole, and the Crows is listed on Textopian as a fable by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1899 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Fable
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date: 1899 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Adventure, Animal Fiction, Fantasy
Length: 738 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The book uses animals in its title, a common trope in children's literature that indirectly suggests that it is written for young readers.
Adventure — The inclusion of multiple characters in the title could imply a story of their journey or experiences together, a common theme in adventure genre.
Animal Fiction — The title uses animals, indicating that the story might use animals as its main characters, common in animal fiction genre.
Fantasy — The use of talking animals in a story often falls under the fantasy genre, as this aspect takes readers into a world where animals act like humans.