The Little Red Hen
A tale of hard work and self-reliance rewarded, while laziness is not.
Summary of 6 Key Points
Key Points
- The red hen finds a grain of wheat
- Hen asks for help but none assist
- She plants, harvests, and mills the wheat
- The hen bakes bread on her own
- Animals willing to help eat, but are refused
- The value of hard work and self-reliance
key point 1 of 6
The red hen finds a grain of wheat
The story begins with the Little Red Hen finding a grain of wheat while she is pecking about the barnyard. Recognizing the potential of the wheat, she knows that if it is planted, it will grow into more wheat that can be harvested and used to make bread. Instead of simply eating the grain or ignoring it, she thinks ahead about the benefits that can come from planting it…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 6
Hen asks for help but none assist
In the story, the Little Red Hen discovers some grains of wheat and decides to plant them. She asks for assistance from the other farm animals, including the cat, the dog, and the duck. Each time she requests help, her query is met with apathy and rejection. The cat, the dog, and the duck each respond with a variation of ‘Not I’ when asked to help with the wheat. Throughout the process of planting, harvesting, milling, and baking the wheat into bread, the Little Red Hen repeats her requests for assistance, but each time she is met with the same lack of interest from the other animals…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 6
She plants, harvests, and mills the wheat
In the story, the Little Red Hen finds a grain of wheat and decides to plant it. Despite her proactive and hardworking nature, she finds no volunteers from among her friends—the duck, the cat, and the dog—to help her with her endeavor. They all decline her invitation to assist with the planting process. Undeterred by their lack of cooperation, the Little Red Hen proceeds to plant the wheat seed herself. She demonstrates independence and a strong work ethic by undertaking the task solo…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 6
The hen bakes bread on her own
In the story, the Little Red Hen finds a grain of wheat and decides to make bread from it. She starts by asking the other farm animals – the pig, the cat, and the duck – for help planting the wheat, but they all decline, each saying ‘Not I’ in response to her request. Undeterred, the hen undertakes the task on her own, sowing the wheat seeds in the field…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 6
Animals willing to help eat, but are refused
In the story, the Little Red Hen finds a grain of wheat and decides to plant it. Throughout the process of planting, tending, reaping the wheat, and eventually making it into bread, she repeatedly asks for assistance from the other farmyard animals: the duck, the cat, and the mouse. However, at every stage of the process, each animal responds with some variation of ‘Not I,’ indicating their refusal to help with the work required to turn the wheat into bread…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 6
The value of hard work and self-reliance
Within the narrative, the Little Red Hen is a character that embodies the virtues of hard work and self-reliance. She discovers a grain of wheat and decides to plant it. Rather than relying on others, she takes initiative, illustrating that hard work starts with the willingness to undertake a task oneself. The hen asks her farmyard friends—the duck, the cat, and the goose—if they will help her plant the wheat, but they all decline. This sets the stage for a recurring theme of self-reliance, as she repeatedly encounters refusal from others to contribute to the labor necessary for growth and success…Read&Listen More