Monkey and the Crocodile: the moral, the characters and questions to ask

The story in two lines

A monkey who lives in a jamun tree makes friends with a crocodile and shares his fruit. When the crocodile’s greedy wife wants the monkey’s heart, the monkey thinks quickly, says he left it in the tree and escapes.

What is the moral?

This tale holds several lessons, and children often find a different one each time. Here are the three most common.

Stay calm and think fast

When the crocodile confessed in the middle of the river, the monkey did not cry or argue. He took a breath and found a way out. A calm mind sees more options than a frightened one.

A friend should not betray a friend

The crocodile was kind at first, and then he put his wife’s wish above his friend’s trust. Talk about how trust is slow to build and quick to break.

Be careful whom you believe

The crocodile believed a story that was too good to be true, and lost his friend and the fruit. Careful listening is a skill, too.

Meet the characters

The monkey

Friendly, generous and quick-witted. He shares what he has, and when danger comes his mind moves faster than his fear.

The crocodile

Gentle at the start, but easily led. He is not a cruel villain; his mistake is that he cannot say no, which makes him a good character to discuss with children.

The crocodile’s wife

She is the one who wants the monkey’s heart. In some tellings she is simply hungry, in others she is only greedy or unwell. You can ask children what they think she wanted and why.

The jamun tree

Easy to forget, but important. The tree gives the fruit that starts the friendship and the branches that keep the monkey safe.

Questions to ask, by age

For ages four to six

• What fruit did the monkey share?
• How did the monkey get away?
• Would you like a friend like the monkey? Why?

For ages seven and up

• Was the crocodile a good friend? When did that change?
• What could the crocodile have said to his wife instead?
• Is it ever right to trick someone? What if you are in danger?
• Which of the three morals above is the most important to you?

Try it: three-chair retelling

Set three chairs for the tree, the river and the far bank. Let your child stand on the tree chair as the monkey, while you play the crocodile. Walk the story through together, then swap roles. Pause at the middle of the river and ask: what would you do here? Children usually invent a new escape, and that is the point of the game.

Where does the story come from?

The tale is part of the Panchatantra, the old collection of animal fables credited to Vishnu Sharma. It is usually placed in the fourth of the five books. Like other Panchatantra stories, it has been retold in many languages, so the fruit, the animals’ names and the crocodile’s excuse can differ. Our telling is only one of them.

More to explore on Rangooo

Read the story page, meet the Lion and the Rabbit, or learn how to tell moral stories to children.

Questions

What is the moral of the Monkey and the Crocodile?

There is more than one. Stay calm and think fast when you are in trouble, and a true friend never betrays a friend's trust.

Who are the characters in the story?

A monkey who lives in a jamun tree, a crocodile who becomes his friend, and the crocodile's wife, whose greed starts the trouble.

Is the Monkey and the Crocodile a Panchatantra story?

Yes. It is usually placed in the fourth book of the Panchatantra. Tellers differ on details such as the fruit and the crocodile's excuse.

Was the monkey right to trick the crocodile?

There is no single answer. The monkey was in danger and used his wits to protect himself, and families often enjoy debating whether he could have done anything differently.