Stories About Slyness

This collection of Stories About Slyness brings together tales of clever tricks, deceit, and cunning strategies, showing how different characters navigate their way out of challenging situations. Featuring popular folktales, fables, and classic narratives, the stories are organized around recurring themes: animals using their wits, humans outsmarting each other, and mythical characters navigating complex situations.

In “Animal Tricks,” various animals use cunning to outwit their predators, rivals, or the humans who threaten them. In The Fox and the Crow, a fox deceives a crow into dropping her cheese by praising her singing voice. Similarly, in The Lion and the Rabbit, a rabbit tricks a lion into leaping into a well, saving the other animals from his greed. The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing explores how a wolf disguises himself to blend in with a flock, intending to trick the shepherd. Meanwhile, in The Goat and the Ram, two animals work together to use a wolf’s head to scare off predators, cleverly ensuring their safety. The classic The Gingerbread Man’s Secret Recipe tells of a gingerbread man who protects his prized recipe from a fox, maintaining his reputation for cleverness.

In “Human Wit and Deception,” stories highlight characters who use cleverness to manipulate others or escape danger. In The Purloined Letter, detective C. Auguste Dupin retrieves a politically important letter hidden in plain sight. The Legend of Stingy Jack depicts Jack, who tricks the Devil twice, ultimately leading to his rejection by both Heaven and Hell and his eternal wandering as a “Jack-o’-Lantern.” The story The Shifty Lad describes the rise and fall of a young thief, showing how slyness and skill can lead to both success and tragic downfall. In The Thief and the Innkeeper, a thief tricks an innkeeper by pretending to turn into a wolf, ultimately stealing the innkeeper’s coat.

The “Myth and Magic” theme showcases mythical beings who use cunning to overcome enemies or seek vengeance. In The Pomegranate Seeds, Proserpina’s curiosity leads her to eat the seeds that bind her to the underworld. How the Tiger Got His Stripes tells how a rabbit tricks a tiger into a humiliating escape, leaving lasting marks on the tiger’s sides. The Trojan Horse recounts the Greek army’s successful conquest of Troy by hiding soldiers inside a giant wooden horse, deceiving the Trojans into bringing it within their city walls. In The Tell-Tale Goblin, a goblin betrays a fairy but is ultimately punished for his treachery.

Finally, “Mischievous Escapades” highlights characters who get the better of others in humorous ways. The Pied Piper of Hamelin shows how the Piper, cheated by the townspeople, retaliates by leading away their children. In Johnny-cake, a runaway cake evades capture by outwitting various pursuers but ultimately falls to a fox’s cleverness. The Shoemaker Rat features a crafty rat who dresses in shoes, fools a cat, and leads his fellow rats in a similar ploy to avoid detection. In Mother Turkey And Her Chicks, a fox tries to lure down turkey chicks, but Mother Turkey turns his vanity against him, sending him tumbling into a water-filled cask.