English stories
English stories
The Kind Elephant and the Smart Fox
The Story of the Elephant and The Fox begins in a wide forest where a gentle elephant lived with his family near a slow river. Every morning the elephant would go to the river to bathe and drink before joining his herd among the trees.
One afternoon, while a young elephant was playing near the riverbank, he stumbled upon an argument between a clever fox and a proud tiger.
The elephant stepped closer and asked them both,
“Why are you fighting?”
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The tiger, showing his sharp teeth, answered in a low voice,
“The fox said he is the smartest animal in the forest and claims he can outwit the lion with his cunning.”
The elephant paused, thinking of the forest chief and the power of a lion, and told the fox,
“You must understand that physical strength can be dangerous — a lion’s might can harm a smaller creature in an instant.”
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The fox lifted his head and replied calmly,
“Strength meant only in the body is limited. A quick mind can change the outcome of any contest.”
The elephant, stung by the fox’s pride, raised his trunk and warned him,
“With one stomp I could crush you like grass under my feet.”
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The fox answered with a sly smile,
“And with a clever plan I can make you flee as if by a frightened shadow.”
The tiger looked from one to the other and snapped,
“Did I not say he is arrogant and must be taught a lesson?”
The elephant nodded, then suggested a public test,
“I don’t want to harm you now — I will challenge you before all the animals so everyone can see which is stronger: my strength or your cleverness. I will use my power and you will use your mind and cunning.”
The fox considered the offer for a moment and asked,
“And what is the punishment for the loser?”
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The tiger laughed and replied,
“Only that he will remain alive — nothing more.”
To show his confidence, the elephant snapped up a sturdy tree branch with his trunk and pretended to bite it like a snack, then turned to the fox and said,
“Tomorrow I will show you what true strength can do. If you win, you may ask me to leave the forest.”
He walked away, chuckling and warning him once more,
“Prepare your plan, little fox, for tomorrow my huge feet will prove the power of strength.”
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The fox knew there was no easy escape from the elephant, who had been swayed by the tiger’s words. Still, the fox accepted the challenge; the elephant promised he would not flee.
On the appointed day, a parrot flew from tree to tree, announcing the match in the heart of the jungle. Word spread quickly and soon all the animals birds, deer, swamp creatures, and even the pride of smaller beasts—gathered to watch the contest between quick wits and great strength. A duck whispered to her swan sister,
“This is decided — the fox will be crushed beneath the elephant’s feet.”
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The swan only smiled and replied,
“I do not know why the fox agreed, but let us watch and learn.”
The fox walked into the arena with a quiet confidence. His father touched his shoulder and said,
“Show the cunning of your father, or be even wiser.”
The fox nodded and answered,
“Do not worry, Dad. A son’s plan is often his father’s secret made new.”
The bell rang — rung by the tall giraffe — and the match began. The elephant entered, heavy and sure. The fox strolled in, carrying something small in his mouth.
When the bell rang clear, the fox released a tiny mouse into the arena.
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The mouse darted and scurried across the clearing. At the sight of the small, quick creature the elephant began to tremble and stomp, then to leap in alarm. He thumped the arena corners with his trunk and, frightened and confused, fled the field.
Meanwhile the fox sat calmly in the far corner, trimming his nails as the crowd watched the elephant’s panic. When the elephant bolted to the edge of the woods, every animal gasped—many assuming the fox had somehow made the mighty beast afraid of him.
From that day, the fox’s reputation grew. Animals who once relied on brute power began to admire cunning and planning; the foxes, as clever as ever, gained new respect across the jungle.
The elephant retreated to the edge of the forest and hid, ashamed that his strength had not carried the day.
The next morning the tiger found the fox by the spring and asked, puzzled and amazed,
“Tell me — how did you make the elephant run away like a frightened mouse?”
The fox answered with a knowing smile,
“Small minds are frightened by small things. A clever plan uses a weakness everyone overlooks.”
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Then the fox drank from the spring and left, singing as he went,
“Have you ever heard of an elephant hiding behind the bushes? Or a tiger who asks a thousand questions?”
The tiger stood there not fully understanding. In the end, the fox won with intelligence and planning, while the elephant had relied only on strength. The story shows that every creature has a weakness; the fox prepared a plan and used it well, and the elephant learned that power alone does not guarantee victory.
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The Story of the Elephant and The Fox ends with a clear lesson: clever plans and careful thinking can overcome raw power. The fox used wit, patience, and a simple idea to turn the day in his favor, while the elephant learned that strength alone — even the power of trunks and heavy feet — is not always the way to win.
For children and grown-ups alike, this short animal fable reminds us that pride and arrogance can blind the strongest, and that respect for every creature’s abilities—whether fox, elephant, or bird—keeps the jungle balanced. Read more stories to discover other tales of cunning, courage, and the many kinds of strength found in nature.
The End
The Story of the elephant and fox is written by Zubaida Sha’ab.
The Story of the elephant and fox is translated by Amal Ahmad .
The story of elephant – short stories for kids
1. Real strength is the strength of the mind and thinking.
2. The strength of the body is defeated by the strength of the mind.
3. The elephant is afraid of the mouse.
4. Foxes are characterized by cunning and deceit.
Teacher Activities Extracted from the Story of the Elephant and the Fox:
1. Competitions that rely on the mind and thinking, from which it can be concluded that hand strength is not always useful.
2. Comparing the characteristics of animals for students.
3. Creating a play that aims to prove the victory of the mind over the strength of the body.
4. Drawing the story and hanging it on the walls of the classroom.
5. The teacher can use the topic in a radio work.
6. Students can make masks in the shapes of animals and each of them expresses himself and his qualities.
7. Creating a Hala group on WhatsApp for reading, enjoyment and benefit, on which story links are sent for more benefit.
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