About the The tortoise and the hare story
“The tortoise and the hare” is a classic fable about a slow-moving tortoise who challenges a speedy, overconfident hare to a race—and wins! It’s a timeless lesson in persistence, patience, and determination.
First told by Aesop around 600 BCE, this fable has inspired readers for centuries. In this article, we share two versions of the story: the full fable and a simplified graded reader for young English learners. With questions at the end to boost comprehension and vocabulary, your child will enjoy learning this important lesson.
For more classic fables and fun learning, check out the Studycat Learn English app!
Let’s pounce into the race and discover how the tortoise outsmarts the hare!
The story of “The tortoise and the hare”
Once upon a time, there was a very fast hare who loved to brag about his speed. “I’m the fastest animal in the forest!” the hare would say, puffing out his chest. “No one can beat me in a race!”
The other animals were tired of the hare’s boasting, but no one dared challenge him—except the tortoise. One day, the tortoise calmly said, “I’ll race you.”
The hare burst out laughing. “You? You’re so slow! I could run circles around you! But if you really want to race, I’ll gladly beat you.”
The animals gathered to watch the race, thinking it would be an easy win for the hare. The tortoise and the hare stood side by side at the starting line, and the race began!
The hare’s overconfidence
As soon as the race started, the hare sped off like lightning, leaving the tortoise far behind. The hare ran so fast that he could barely see the tortoise crawling along in the distance.
Confident that he would win, the hare thought, “There’s no way that slow tortoise can catch up to me! I’ve got plenty of time.” So, he decided to take a nap under a shady tree. “I’ll rest for a while, and when I wake up, I’ll still have plenty of time to win,” the hare thought.
Meanwhile, the tortoise kept moving forward—slowly but steadily. He didn’t stop, didn’t rest, and didn’t get distracted. He just kept going, one slow step after another.
The tortoise’s determination
While the hare was sleeping, the tortoise passed him. The tortoise didn’t look back, and he didn’t rush—he just kept moving toward the finish line.
Eventually, the hare woke up and stretched. “Time to finish the race!” he thought. But when he looked ahead, he was shocked to see the tortoise far ahead, nearing the finish line.
The hare bolted toward the finish line as fast as he could, but it was too late. The tortoise had already crossed the finish line! The animals cheered as the tortoise won the race.
The hare, panting and out of breath, couldn’t believe it. “How did you beat me?” he asked.
The tortoise smiled and replied, “Slow and steady wins the race.”
The moral of “The tortoise and the hare”
Persistence and determination are more important than speed or talent.
The hare’s overconfidence and laziness cost him the race, while the tortoise’s steady pace and determination brought him victory. The story teaches us that it’s not always the fastest or most talented who succeed, but those who keep moving forward with patience and focus.
Questions about “The tortoise and the hare”
- What did the hare always brag about?
- Who challenged the hare to a race?
- What did the hare do when he was far ahead in the race?
- How did the tortoise win the race?
- What lesson does The Tortoise and the Hare teach us?
Answers
- The hare always bragged about being the fastest animal in the forest.
- The tortoise challenged the hare to a race.
- The hare decided to take a nap because he thought he had plenty of time to win.
- The tortoise won the race by moving slowly and steadily without stopping.
- The story teaches us that persistence and determination are more important than being fast or talented.
Words to learn
- Tortoise: A slow-moving animal with a hard shell. The tortoise won the race by being steady and determined.
- Hare: A fast animal similar to a rabbit. The hare was confident he would win the race because of his speed.
- Nap: A short sleep. The hare took a nap during the race because he thought he had plenty of time.
- Steady: Moving at a constant, unchanging pace. The tortoise was steady in the race and didn’t stop, even though he was slow.
- Overconfidence: Being too sure of yourself or your abilities. The hare’s overconfidence made him think he would win easily.
What type of story is “The tortoise and the hare”?
The Tortoise and the Hare is a fable, a short story that teaches a moral lesson, often using animals as characters.
Who wrote “The tortoise and the hare”?
The Tortoise and the Hare is a fable by Aesop, an ancient Greek storyteller. Learn more about Aesop here.
When was “The tortoise and the hare” written?
The Tortoise and the Hare was written more than 2,500 years ago as part of Aesop’s Fables.
Who are the main characters in “The tortoise and the hare”?
The main characters are the tortoise, who is slow but determined, and the hare, who is fast but overconfident.
What lesson can we learn from “The tortoise and the hare”?
We learn that persistence and determination are often more important than being the fastest or most talented. The tortoise won the race because he kept going, while the hare lost because he was overconfident and lazy.
”The tortoise and the hare” story for young English learners (ages 2-5, Pre-A1 graded reader)
In a green forest, there lived many animals. Among them were a tortoise and a hare.
The tortoise was very slow. He walked little by little.
The hare was very fast. He could run like the wind.
One day, the hare saw the tortoise walking slowly. He laughed and said, “You are so slow! I bet I can beat you in a race.”
The tortoise was calm. He said, “Okay, let’s have a race.”
All the animals in the forest came to watch. They marked a finish line far away.
The race began. The hare ran very fast. Soon, he was far ahead of the tortoise.
The hare looked back. He couldn’t even see the tortoise! He thought, “I’m so far ahead. I can take a nap.”
So the hare lay down under a tree and fell asleep.
The tortoise kept walking. He never stopped. He went slowly but steadily.
He passed the sleeping hare. Still, he didn’t stop.
After some time, the hare woke up. He saw the tortoise near the finish line!
The hare ran as fast as he could. But it was too late.
The tortoise crossed the finish line first. He won the race!
All the animals cheered for the tortoise. The hare felt silly.
The tortoise said, “Slow and steady wins the race.”
The hare learned a lesson. Being fast is good, but it’s more important to keep trying and never give up.
The end.
Fun fact!
Did you know? The phrase “slow and steady wins the race” comes directly from “The tortoise and the hare” and is still used today to remind people that working carefully and patiently is often the key to success.
