The Hare and the Hedgehog
A hedgehog is tricked into running a race with a hare who cheats to win. The hedgehog's slow pace allows him to observe the hare's behavior and expose his deceit.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fable, Folktale, Children's Literature · 1,655 words
First lines
This story, my dear young folks, seems to be false, but it really is true, for my grandfather, from whom I have it, used always, when relating it, to say complacently, "It must be true, my son, or else no one could tell it to you. " The story is as follows. One Sunday morning about harvest time, just as the buckwheat was in bloom, the sun was shining brightly in heaven, the east wind was blowing warmly over the stubble-fields, the larks were singing in the air, the bees buzzing among the buckwheat, the people were all going in their Sunday clothes to church, and all creatures were happy, and the hedgehog was happy too.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hare and the Hedgehog is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1815 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Date: 1815 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Folktale, Children's Literature, Humor, Fantasy
- Length: 1,655 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hare and the Hedgehog by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Hare and the Hedgehog?
- How does this fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Fox And The Geese by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Cock And The Mouse by Frank Hamilton Cushing
- The Fox And The Cat by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- How The Wicked Sons Were Duped by Joseph Jacobs
- The Wolf And The Fox by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Golden Goose by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fable — The story features anthropomorphic animals and conveys a moral lesson, typical of fables.
- Folktale — The narrative is a traditional story passed down through generations, often with a moral or lesson.
- Children's Literature — The simple plot and moral lesson make it suitable for children.
- Humor — The story contains elements of humor, particularly in the cleverness of the hedgehog and the hare's repeated failures.
Tags
Fable · Animal Story · Moral Lesson · Short Story · Children's Literature · German Folklore · Classic Fairy Tale · Cautionary Tale · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Nature Imagery