Dickens & Rumi
Cover of The Grasshopper and the Ants

film

The Grasshopper and the Ants

1934

As in the classic fable, the grasshopper plays his fiddle and lives for the moment, while the industrious ants squirrel away massive amounts of food for the winter. With his song, he's able to convince at least one small ant until the queen arrives and scares him back to work. The queen warns the grasshopper of the trouble he'll be in, come winter. Winter comes, and the grasshopper, near starvation, stumbles across the ants, who are having a full-on feast in their snug little tree. They take him in and warm him up. The queen tells him only those who work can eat so he must play for them. Written by Jon Reeves

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes1/5
  • Violence1/5

Strongest positives

  • Positive messages3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity2/5
  • Good role models2/5

What’s in it?

Frightening scenes1/5
Why this rating?

The queen frightens the grasshopper, and winter hardship creates mild tension, but the overall tone is gentle.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

There is no physical violence.

What’s good in it?

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Music and the grasshopper's fiddle-playing provide playful artistic expression, though inventive problem-solving is not central.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It teaches the classic fable's practical lesson about planning, work, and consequences rather than academic knowledge.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Although the ants set a condition, they take in, warm, and feed the starving grasshopper.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The central lesson emphasizes preparing for the future, contributing through work, and accepting reasonable responsibility.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

The ants serve as positive examples of diligence and cooperation.

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What message do you think the story most wants you to remember?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in The Grasshopper and the Ants would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The Grasshopper and the Ants, and what caused that change?
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