The Ant and the Dove

An Ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned. A Dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf, and let it fall into the stream close to her. The Ant, climbing on to it, floated in safety to the bank. Shortly afterwards a birdcatcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the Dove, which sat in the branches. The Ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot. He suddenly threw down the twigs, and thereupon made the Dove take wing.

The grateful heart will always find opportunities to show its gratitude.

From The Ant and the Dove by Aesop, translated by George Fyler Townsend (1867). Public domain.

Check your understanding

1. What does the phrase "perceiving his design" mean as it is used in the passage?

Noticing the beautiful pattern on the twigsUnderstanding the birdcatcher's plan to trap the DoveSeeing the birdcatcher's drawing of a birdRealizing the Dove was about to fly away

2. How does the author show the moral of the story through the Ant's actions?

By having the Ant build a boat out of a leaf to escape the river.By showing the Ant running away from the birdcatcher to stay safe.By having the Ant risk its own safety to save the Dove from the trap.By explaining how the Ant thanked the Dove with a song.

3. Compare the situation the Ant faces at the beginning of the story to the situation the Dove faces at the end. How are they similar?

4. The author writes that the Ant was carried away by the "rush of the stream." How does the word "rush" help the reader understand the Ant's problem?

5. Based on the text, why did the birdcatcher's reaction to the sting save the Dove? Use evidence from the passage to explain.