Narrate the poem in the form of a story. Give a different ending to the story. You may begin like this: 'This is a story about a clever fox named Reynard and Mr Raven. One day...'
This is a story about a clever fox named Reynard and Mr Raven. One day, Mr Raven was perched on a tree branch holding a delicious piece of cheese in his beak.
Reynard the Fox, who was very hungry, saw the Raven and devised a clever plan. He looked up at the Raven and said, 'Good morning, Sir Raven! How handsome you look today! Your feathers are so shiny and black. I have heard that you have the most beautiful voice in all the woods. Would you please sing for me?'
The Raven, feeling very proud, opened his beak to sing. But instead of dropping the cheese, he remembered his grandmother's warning about flattery. He pressed the cheese tighter in his beak and thought, 'This fox is trying to trick me!'
The Raven flew away with his cheese, leaving the hungry Fox disappointed.
The moral: Always be wary of those who praise you too much—they may want something from you.
Explanation
This speaking activity requires students to retell the poem as a narrative story and create an alternative ending. Students practice oral storytelling skills while demonstrating understanding of the poem's plot and characters. The different ending could show the Raven learning from his mistake, being warned by someone, or outsmarting the Fox. This encourages creative thinking and helps students understand cause-and-effect relationships in narratives.
Solution Steps
Introduction of characters: Reynard the Fox and Mr Raven
The Raven holds a piece of cheese; the hungry Fox devises a plan
The Fox uses flattery to trick the Raven into singing
The Raven remembers a warning about flattery and outsmarts the Fox
The Raven flies away safely with the cheese
Moral: Be cautious of excessive praise