What is the Moral of the Monkey and Crocodile Story?
The Monkey And Crocodile Story from the Panchatantra is a well-known Indian folktale that teaches valuable life lessons about friendship, trust, and intelligence. This short story is often shared with children to help them understand the consequences of making wise decisions. Let’s explore the storyline, characters, moral, and critical appreciation of this classic tale.
Monkey And Crocodile Story – Summary & Line by Line Explanation
The Monkey And Crocodile Story follows a clever monkey who lives on a fruit-laden tree near a river. The monkey and a crocodile become friends when the monkey generously shares delicious fruits. The crocodile, impressed by the monkey's kindness, visits daily. One day, the crocodile’s wife desires to eat the monkey’s heart, leading to a cunning plan. The monkey’s intelligence ultimately saves him from danger.
This story’s step-by-step explanation and vivid imagery make it perfect for children. The tale appears in many Indian languages, like Hindi (“बंदर और मगरमच्छ की कहानी”), Kannada, and Telugu, and continues to be a timeless favourite among Panchatantra stories.
The monkey lives alone, happily eating fruits on the riverside tree.
The crocodile becomes the monkey’s friend due to the monkey’s hospitality and kindness.
The crocodile’s wife becomes envious and wishes to eat the monkey’s heart for its supposed sweetness.
To please his wife, the crocodile tricks the monkey into riding on his back, pretending to invite him home.
Midway across the river, the crocodile reveals his true intentions. The clever monkey claims to have left his heart on the tree.
The crocodile swims back, hoping to retrieve the heart. The monkey quickly climbs the tree to safety, outsmarting his “friend.”
Read more about monkeys here!
Monkey And Crocodile Story in 100 Words and 150 Words
The monkey and crocodile short story in 100 words: A clever monkey lived on a fruit tree by a river and befriended a crocodile by offering him fruits. When the crocodile’s wife wanted to eat the monkey's heart, the crocodile invited the monkey for a ride and revealed the plan. The clever monkey told the crocodile that his heart was left on the tree. The crocodile swam back, and the monkey escaped safely.
The monkey and crocodile story in 150 words: Once upon a time, a kind monkey lived on a tree near a river. He made friends with a crocodile by sharing sweet fruits every day. The crocodile’s wife became jealous and asked her husband to bring her the monkey’s heart. The crocodile invited the monkey for a ride across the river. In the middle of the river, the crocodile confessed his intention. The monkey, being wise, said he left his heart on the tree. Trusting him, the crocodile took him back. The monkey quickly climbed the tree, teaching that intellect can protect us from tricky situations.
Explore more children’s stories here.
Theme, Message, and Moral of the Monkey And Crocodile Story
The Monkey And Crocodile Story theme and message focus on using intelligence and presence of mind to overcome betrayal. The story also reveals how blind trust in friends can be harmful if they have selfish motives. The importance of cleverness in tricky situations is central to the tale.
The moral of the story: “A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.” This proverb encourages us to choose friends carefully and never to lose our wit even in dangerous circumstances. For similar lessons, discover the Hare and Tortoise Story on Vedantu.
Character Sketch and Analysis – Monkey And Crocodile Story
Monkey and Crocodile Story character sketch and analysis helps young readers understand the personalities that drive the plot. Each character shows different traits, making the story memorable and meaningful.
Main Characters
| Character | Traits | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey | Clever, Trusting, Generous | Protagonist, teaches the lesson |
| Crocodile | Friendly, Gullible, Manipulated | Friend turned betrayer |
| Crocodile’s Wife | Jealous, Selfish, Scheming | Main instigator |
The monkey’s wit contrasts with the crocodile’s weakness for manipulation. The crocodile’s wife drives the conflict, highlighting the importance of self-awareness in relationships. For more on analysing characters, read about story characters on Vedantu.
Monkey And Crocodile Story – Important Questions and Answers
The Monkey And Crocodile Story important questions and answers section helps students grasp the story better. Here are some common questions:
Q: What does the crocodile’s wife represent in the story?
A: Self-interest and jealousy, which can influence others’ actions and destroy genuine friendships.Q: How does the monkey trick the crocodile?
A: By claiming his heart was left on the tree, showing quick thinking in a dangerous moment.Q: What is the main lesson of the story?
A: Using intelligence to escape danger and being careful about whom you trust.
Practice answering story questions here.
Monkey And Crocodile Story – Stanza Wise Explanation
Monkey And Crocodile Story stanza wise explanation breaks the tale into simple parts so children can follow easily. Each section introduces a new twist, from friendship to betrayal to the monkey’s clever escape. This helps children in various grade levels understand plot progression and character motives.
Teachers often use this style to foster comprehension in English learning environments, similar to Panchatantra’s other fables. For more story breakdowns, visit Vedantu’s Kids Topics page.
Critical Appreciation and Real-World Examples
The Monkey And Crocodile Story critical appreciation recognizes its simple yet powerful narrative. The story’s universal theme applies beyond childhood—many people face situations where quick thinking and caution are needed. For example, in daily life, we must be wise about whom we trust and always assess risks, whether in friendships, business, or personal decisions.
This timeless classic continues to inspire through its relatable characters and strong message. Vedantu often uses such fables to teach English and life values interactively.
Monkey And Crocodile Story Author and Source
Monkey And Crocodile Story author is unknown as the tale is part of the ancient Panchatantra, a collection of Indian moral stories. These stories were designed to educate young minds about wise conduct and social behaviour. The monkey and crocodile short story stands as an outstanding example of this teaching tradition.
Many other Panchatantra stories share similar morals. For more, explore short stories like how to write a short story and what is a fable on Vedantu.
Monkey And Crocodile Story in Different Formats and Languages
This story exists in many versions: as a 10-line story, imaginative paragraph, or even drawings for primary school. Monkey And Crocodile Story in English is read worldwide, with variants in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, and other regional languages.
Children often enjoy Monkey and Crocodile story pictures, drawings, or as a short story PDF for bedtime reading. For creative activities, check out learning activities and worksheets for kids on Vedantu.
Related Panchatantra Stories and Lessons for Life
If you enjoyed the Monkey And Crocodile Story, don’t miss other Panchatantra tales that share important morals through animal characters. They nurture wisdom, kindness, and cleverness in young readers.
Stories like The Hare and The Tortoise, The Ant and The Grasshopper, and more are available at Vedantu, helping both children and adults learn essential life lessons through fables and short stories.
The Monkey And Crocodile Story remains a favourite because of its rich themes, memorable characters, and clear moral message. It teaches the value of critical thinking, careful friendship, and the importance of quick wit when faced with challenges—qualities that benefit everyone in real life.
FAQs on Monkey and Crocodile Story: Summary and Moral for Students
1. What is the Monkey and Crocodile story about?
The Monkey and Crocodile story is a famous fable from the Panchatantra that teaches the value of quick thinking and not trusting blindly. The story is about a clever monkey who escapes the trick of a greedy crocodile using his intelligence. It highlights friendship, betrayal, and the importance of being wise in difficult situations.
2. What is the main moral of the Monkey and Crocodile story?
The main moral of the Monkey and Crocodile story is to always use your intelligence and stay alert in difficult situations. Additional morals include:
- Do not trust others blindly, even friends.
- Think before you act to avoid danger.
- Being clever and calm helps you out of tricky problems.
3. Who are the main characters in the Monkey and Crocodile story?
The main characters are:
- Monkey – intelligent, kind, and clever.
- Crocodile – sometimes friendly, but greedy and tricky.
- Crocodile’s Wife – scheming and selfish.
These characters appear in a Panchatantra animal story about friendship and smart thinking.
4. What lesson do we learn from the Monkey and Crocodile story?
The story teaches us that being wise and alert can save us from harm. Other lessons include:
- Always think before taking action.
- Stay calm and look for solutions during challenges.
- Select friends wisely and do not give in to flattery.
5. How did the monkey save himself in the story?
The monkey saved himself by using his cleverness. When the crocodile tried to take him across the river to eat his heart, the monkey said that he had left his heart on the tree. The crocodile carried him back, and the monkey jumped to safety on the riverbank. This shows the importance of quick thinking in danger.
6. Where does the Monkey and Crocodile story come from?
The Monkey and Crocodile story comes from the Panchatantra, a collection of ancient Indian animal stories. These stories are known for teaching moral lessons to children and are often included in English and moral science textbooks.
7. How can I use this story in my exams or class activities?
Students can use the Monkey and Crocodile story in essays, paragraph writing, storytelling competitions, and moral science answers. For best results in exams:
- Write the characters and main events in order.
- Finish with the moral clearly stated.
- Use simple English and short sentences for clarity.
8. Can the Monkey and Crocodile story be written as a short paragraph for homework?
Yes, the story can be summarized in 8-10 lines for homework or class assignments. Focus on the key characters, the main incident (the crocodile's trick), and how the monkey saves himself, ending with the moral lesson about cleverness and trust.
9. What are some other Panchatantra stories like the Monkey and Crocodile?
Other famous Panchatantra stories that teach important morals include:
- The Lion and the Mouse
- The Fox and the Grapes
- The Turtle and the Geese
These stories use animal characters and simple plots to explain life lessons, just like the Monkey and Crocodile story does.
10. How is quick thinking shown to be important in the Monkey and Crocodile story?
Quick thinking is the key to the monkey’s survival in the story. The monkey does not panic when he learns of the crocodile's trick. Instead, he immediately comes up with a plan, tells the crocodile his heart is on the tree, and escapes safely. This teaches students the value of staying calm and thinking smart in tough situations.
