Theme for The Tortoise and the Hare - Post University Assignment

The story I am picking to show theme is for The Tortoise and the Hare. 

"There once was a speedy hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him boast, Slow and Steady, the tortoise, challenged him to a race. All the animals in the forest gathered to watch.

Hare ran down the road for a while and then paused to rest. He looked back at Slow and Steady and cried out, "How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at your slow, slow pace?"

Hare stretched himself out alongside the road and fell asleep, thinking, "There is plenty of time to relax."

Slow and Steady walked and walked. He never, ever stopped until he came to the finish line.

The animals who were watching cheered so loudly for Tortoise, they woke up Hare.

Hare stretched and yawned and began to run again, but it was too late. Tortoise was over the line.

After that, Hare always reminded himself, "Don't brag about your lightning pace, for Slow and Steady won the race!""

(Aesop, 2000)

I consider these points to be main themes in the story of the Tortoise and the Hare:

1. Don't give up.

No matter what obtacles may appear to be in front of you, keep trying until you achieve your goals. 

2. Intelligence is more important than speed.

The ability to think and analyze and put together a plan is more important than randomly acting out without a plan. 

3. Plan your actions, rather than acting haphazardly.

Set your goals and plan your steps and set them into action and how you want to achieve them. Be prepared to make changes along the way when necessary. Nothing is set in stone and can be changed. 

4. Friends and people you can learn from come in all types of packages

New friends and neighbors come in all shapes and sizes and packages. Don't focus only on a single type of person to engage with and learn from. Be open and aware and pay attention to what is happening around you and learning opportunities will show up. Be prepared and open to receive them when the arrive.

Here is another author who also points out the themes she sees in this story, which are similar to mine. 

"Perseverance: The tortoise never gave up, even though he was competing against a faster opponent and was almost certain to lose.

Overconfidence: The hare was not only faster than the tortoise but also complacent. He took his win for granted, and this ended up costing him the victory.

Strategy: The tortoise had a well-thought-out plan, even though he knew he was at a disadvantage. He focused on his strengths, one step at a time, and eventually won.

Importance of hard work: The hare relied on his natural ability and speed and did not put in as much effort as the tortoise.

Persistence pays off: The tortoise’s tenacity and willpower paid off, proving that never giving up can lead to success."

(Slater, Tammy; 2022)

References

Slater, Tammy; 2022, AREW, https://arew.org/what-is-the-theme-of-the-tortoise-and-the-hare-quizlet/

Aesop, 2000, Story Arts, https://www.storyarts.org/library/aesops/stories/tortoise.html

Post University, English 130, English Literature and Composition