A vain Jackdaw tries to join the royal Peacocks by wearing their dropped feathers but is rejected by both the Peacocks and his own kind.
Envious of the beautiful Peacocks, a plain Jackdaw adorns himself with their castoff feathers to join their royal society. However, his disguise is quickly discovered, and he is chased away in disgrace. Returning to his own kind, he finds no welcome there either, as they punish him for his arrogance, teaching him that borrowed feathers do not make a fine bird.
Author: Aesop
Themes:
A Jackdaw chanced to fly over the garden of the King's palace. There he saw with much wonder and envy a flock of royal Peacocks in all the glory of their splendid plumage.
Now the black Jackdaw was not a very handsome bird, nor very refined in manner. Yet he imagined that all he needed to make himself fit for the society of the Peacocks was a dress like theirs. So he picked up some castoff feathers of the Peacocks and stuck them among his own black plumes.
Dressed in his borrowed finery he strutted loftily among the birds of his own kind. Then he flew down into the garden among the Peacocks. But they soon saw who he was. Angry at the cheat, they flew at him, plucking away the borrowed feathers and also some of his own.
The poor Jackdaw returned sadly to his former companions. There another unpleasant surprise awaited him. They had not forgotten his superior airs toward them, and, to punish him, they drove him away with a rain of pecks and jeers.
Borrowed feathers do not make fine birds.
Introduction
The fable of The Vain Jackdaw teaches a timeless lesson about authenticity and self-acceptance. Aesop's story reminds us that pretending to be someone we are not only leads to isolation and unhappiness.
About Aesop
Aesop is famous for his fables, which use animal characters to teach simple moral truths.
Moral of the Story
Borrowed feathers do not make fine birds. It is better to be yourself than to pretend to be something you are not.
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The Vain Jackdaw & his Borrowed Feathers
The fable of The Vain Jackdaw teaches a timeless lesson about authenticity and self-acceptance. Aesop's story reminds us that pretending to be someone we are not only leads to isolation and unhappiness.
Origin
This fable is attributed to Aesop, a storyteller believed to have lived in Ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE.
About Aesop
Aesop is famous for his fables, which use animal characters to teach simple moral truths.
Moral of the Story
Borrowed feathers do not make fine birds. It is better to be yourself than to pretend to be something you are not.
Honesty
Humility
Self-acceptance
Authenticity
Activities
Discuss with children why the Jackdaw wanted to be a Peacock. Draw a picture of the bird with the mismatched feathers.
🎨Drawing
💬Discussion
✨Role-playing
Frequently Asked Questions
❓What did the Jackdaw do?
He stuck peacock feathers into his own plumage to look like them.
❓How did the Peacocks react?
They recognized him, got angry, and plucked the feathers out.
❓What is the lesson?
Be yourself and don't look down on your own friends.
