The Cruel Crane Outwitted
In a forest, a crane devises a plan to catch fish from a dwindling pond. He pretends to care for the fish's well-being, suggesting they move to a larger pond. The fish, skeptical, send a blind fish to verify the crane's claims. After confirming the existence of the new pond, the fish trust the crane and allow him to take them one by one. The crane kills each fish upon arrival at the new pond, consuming them entirely. A crab, the last remaining creature, is wary of the crane's intentions. The crab proposes that the crane carry him by the neck, believing he can outsmart the crane. The crane, unaware of the crab's plan, agrees. As they approach the tree where the crane has been killing the fish, the crab realizes the crane's deceit and threatens to kill him instead. The crane pleads for his life, and the crab demands to be placed in the pond first. Once the crane complies, the crab severs the crane's neck, ensuring his own survival. The story concludes with a moral lesson about the consequences of deceit, emphasizing that cleverness in villainy does not guarantee success.
By Joseph Jacobs · First published 1898 · Genre: Fable, Fantasy, Children's Literature · 1,298 words
First lines
Long ago the Bodisat was born to a forest life as the Genius of a tree standing near a certain lotus pond.
Now at that time the water used to run short at the dry season in a certain pond, not over large, in which there were a good many fish. And a crane thought on seeing the fish:
What this Textopian page supports
The Cruel Crane Outwitted is listed on Textopian as a fable by Joseph Jacobs, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Joseph Jacobs
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Allegory
- Length: 1,298 words
- Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Cruel Crane Outwitted by Joseph Jacobs
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Fox And The Crow by Parker Fillmore
- The Story Of A Cat A Mouse A Lizard And An Owl by S. M. Mitra
- The Dear Little Hen The Story Of A Rooster That Cheated by Parker Fillmore
- The Dog The Cock And The Fox by Leo Tolstoy
- The Poor Turkey Girl by Frank Hamilton Cushing
- The Gifted Ant by Oliver Herford
Genres
- Fable — The story conveys a moral lesson through anthropomorphized animals, typical of fables.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes magical elements and talking animals, characteristic of fantasy literature.
- Children's Literature — The simple plot and moral lessons make it suitable for a young audience.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey and conflict between the crane and the crab.
Tags
Folk Tale · Animal Story · Trickster Figure · Crane · Fox · Deception · Outwitting · Cunning · Intelligence · Nature · Wildlife · Survival