Скачать или смотреть The hare and the hound Aesop's fables Classics Illustrated Junior tales English e-learning

George Pitropogiannakis as grandfather-storyteller of Classics-Illustrated-Junior presents “The Hare and the Hound" on a Spring afternoon in the area of Eleftherias Square, a lively landmark in the Heart of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Eleftherias Square is the central and largest square of Heraklion, brimming with life at all hours of the day and night. It serves as a key meeting point for all age groups—older residents enjoying coffee at the surrounding cafés, and younger generations engaging in activities like skateboarding.
Visitors to the square will encounter notable landmarks such as the Statue of the Unknown Soldier, the modern gate of Saint George, and the neoclassical building that houses the Region of Crete's administrative offices. On the eastern side of the square stands one of Greece’s most important museums, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Throughout the year, Eleftherias Square hosts various events and exhibitions, while during the Christmas season, it transforms into a festive holiday village. It is worth noting that the open space now occupied by the square was once used, during the Venetian era, as a training ground for the Venetian mercenary army.
(This is the point on Google Maps: 35°20'17.7"N 25°08'13.3"E)
“The Hare and the Hound” is a classic moral fable that, though brief, conveys a profound truth about motivation, stakes, and survival. In this short story, a hound fails to catch a hare, despite being faster and presumably stronger. His master is disappointed and questions how such a smaller animal could possibly outrun him. The hound responds with a powerful observation: “I was running only for your dinner. The hare was running for his life.”
This final line delivers the central moral of the story — that necessity is the greatest motivator. The hare's motivation is survival, the most primal and urgent instinct in any creature. The hound, on the other hand, chases out of duty or hunger — not out of fear, and not with his life on the line. This crucial difference underscores how the intensity of one’s purpose can dramatically alter performance and outcomes.
The fable, likely rooted in ancient Aesopic tradition, offers a layered lesson. It not only points to the power of motivation, but also touches on the human tendency to judge performance without understanding the full context. The master's remark reflects superficial judgment based on results, without recognizing that not all runners run for the same reasons. The hound’s calm and honest reply reveals a deeper awareness: outcomes often depend more on internal pressures than on external appearances.
In modern terms, the story illustrates how those with more at stake are often more determined and resourceful — a reality observable in struggles for justice, safety, or dignity. A person fighting for survival may far outpace someone competing for comfort or gain, even if the latter seems to have every advantage. It’s also a reflection on empathy — we must understand what others are running from before we judge how fast they move.
This theme finds an interesting, albeit humorous, echo in Edward Lear’s nonsense verse “There Was an Old Man in a Garden.” The old man politely asks everyone to leave, but when asked why, reveals his rudeness: “You’re a bore!” The abrupt shift from apology to insult mirrors the unexpected wisdom in the hound’s reply. Both pieces use simplicity and surprise to challenge assumptions: politeness hides irritation; weakness hides reason.
Ultimately, “The Hare and the Hound” teaches that courage and desperation often triumph over strength and entitlement. It reminds us to consider not just effort, but urgency — and that understanding why someone runs is just as important as seeing how they run.
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