What is The Fox and the Grapes?
A fox who cannot reach a high bunch of grapes convinces himself they were sour all along, giving us the phrase 'sour grapes.'
Available Variants
At a Glance
Europe / Greece
ATU 59
2 min read
Easy
Rationalization
Self-Deception
Pride
Key Takeaways
- 1.It's easy to despise what we cannot have; we often devalue what's out of reach to protect our egos
- 2.Rationalizing failure is a common human weakness that prevents growth and self-awareness
- 3.True character is revealed by how we respond to disappointment, not by how we handle success
The Fox and the Grapes
Annotations Enabled
One hot summer's day, a Fox was strolling through an orchard when he spotted a bunch of grapes ripening on a vine trained along a high branch. The grapes looked ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered at the sight. Drawing back a few paces, he took a running jump and just missed.
He tried again and again, but each time he could not reach the grapes. At last he sat down, looked at the vine in disgust, and walked away. 'I am sure they are sour anyway,' he muttered. It is easy to despise what you cannot have.
Field Notes
My Folklore Journal
Record your thoughts, motifs you noticed, or personal connections to this tale.
Cultural Note
The phrase 'sour grapes' has entered common usage in dozens of languages as a metaphor for rationalizing failure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial Review
E-E-A-T
Reviewed by
Dr. Eleanor Vance, Folklore Studies
Last updated
April 30, 2026
Sources & References
- 1.Aesop — Aesop's Fables: A New Translation (1912)
- 2.Temples, O. — The Complete Fables (1998)
- 3.Padel, R. — Fable (2010)
Community Discussion
F
FolkloreFan2 days ago
I love how this variant emphasizes the role of the magical helper. It's so different from the version I grew up with!
S
Scholar_Jane5 hours ago
The ATU 510A classification really helps in seeing the structural similarities with Ye Xian. Fascinating stuff.
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