Why Did The Mountain Call The Squirrel A Little Prigi?
Did you know that the little squirrel was wiser than the huge mountain? You may have heard the story of the ‘Mount and the Squirrel’, but have you ever wondered why the mountain called a small creature ‘little prig’? Let’s look at the meaning of these two phrases and learn why the tiny creature is wiser than the lofty mountain.
‘The Mountain and the Squirrel’
This classic tale of friendship and rivalry features a mountain and a squirrel, both individuals created by Almighty God. The mountain thinks itself more important and claims to be greater than the squirrel, but the squirrel acknowledges that the mountain is a sentient being. Though the two animals have different personalities, they are both equally valuable and contribute to the world in unique ways. The moral of the story is that both animals have the potential to help each other.
Although the mountain is bigger than the squirrel, he is not nearly as agile. The mountain acknowledges the advantages of his size and speed, but the squirrel is more active and nimble than the mountain. In the end, the two characters try to resolve their differences. The mountain is smaller than the squirrel, but the two have their strengths and weaknesses. The moral of the story is to take the time to recognize and acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of each other.
‘Little prig’
The mountain called the squirrel little prick to mock him. The squirrel replied that every thing in nature has its own significance, including itself, but that it is no longer necessary for it to be the biggest and crack the biggest nuts. Then the mountain realised that everybody has different qualities and roles. It is a lesson for us to appreciate what we can do, regardless of our size or position.
In a similar story, the mountain called the squirrel little prick, a tiny creature that is self-righteous, annoying, and fussy. In this world, all sorts of things live together. All things have their place, and everything is connected. The mountain, proud of its size, teased the little prig for it. In a sense, it was being wise and recognizing that no one has the power to change a mountain’s abilities.
‘Pretty squirrel track’
The mountain once called a squirrel a little prig, despite its huge size. The squirrel replied by saying that it was pretty, alive, and wise, and it was proud of its accomplishments. Unlike the mountain, who cannot carry forests on its back, a squirrel can easily carry nuts. The lesson learned here is not to tease based on the abilities of the other party, but rather on how they differ in personality.
The speaker, however, does not intend to mock the mountain; he is only trying to show the importance of each and every element of nature. As a sentient being, the speaker does not feel a disgrace. Therefore, he recognizes that everything has its own special role and that the “big mountain” isn’t as useful as a squirrel.
The tiny squirrel is wiser than the lofty mountain
The witty little squirrel once compared himself to a mountain and said that the mountain was a “little prig” and therefore inferior. The squirrel replied that being small does not make you less important. The mountain was too big and could carry the forest on its back, while the little squirrel is so tiny, he can’t even crack a nut! Hence, the tiny squirrel is wiser than the lofty mountain.
The mountain is bigger and stronger than the squirrel but it doesn’t have half of the energy of the squirrel. But the mountain can carry the track of the squirrel and provide him with shelter. This is an example of how different species have different talents, but are organized wisely and well-organized. All things in the universe need each other to survive, including weather, and the two are equally important to each other.
Characters in the poem
The first line of the poem introduces the main character, a squirrel, who mocks the big mountain, saying, “Why does the mountain call me a little prig?” The next two lines describe the differences between the two creatures and the speaker’s attempt to reconcile his differences with the mountain’s. Both characters are sentient, and their differences are recognized by the speaker, who calls them both “bun.”
The squirrel is small, fussy, and irritating, but he sees himself as a much greater creature than the mountain. The mountain, on the other hand, isn’t half as spry as the squirrel, and it cannot carry a forest on its back. As such, the little prig is not less important than the mountain, who cannot even carry a log.
Why did the mountain call the squirrel a little prig?
Because the squirrel was constantly stealing the mountain’s nuts.
Why did the mountain decides to teach the squirrel a lesson?
Because the mountain was tired of the squirrel stealing his nuts.
How did the mountain teach the squirrel a lesson?
The mountain waited for the squirrel to come steal his nuts and then he grabbed the squirrel and held him tight.
What did the mountain tell the squirrel while he was holding him?
The mountain told the squirrel that he was tired of him stealing his nuts and that he needed to stop.
What did the squirrel say in response to the mountain?
The squirrel said that he was sorry and that he would stop stealing the mountain’s nuts.
Did the squirrel stop stealing the mountain’s nuts?
Yes the squirrel stopped stealing the mountain’s nuts after the mountain taught him a lesson.
Why did the mountain let the squirrel go?
The mountain felt sorry for the squirrel and decided to let him go.
What did the mountain do after he let the squirrel go?
The mountain went back to his business and forgot about the squirrel.
What did the squirrel do after the mountain let him go?
The squirrel went back to his home and thought about what the mountain had said to him.
Did the squirrel steal the mountain’s nuts again?
No the squirrel did not steal the mountain’s nuts again after the mountain taught him a lesson.
Why was the squirrel sorry for stealing the mountain’s nuts?
The squirrel was sorry for stealing the mountain’s nuts because he knew it was wrong and he didn’t want to get in trouble.
Would the squirrel have gotten in trouble if the mountain hadn’t caught him?
Yes the squirrel would have gotten in trouble if the mountain hadn’t caught him because stealing is against the law.
Did the mountain enjoy teaching the squirrel a lesson?
No the mountain did not enjoy teaching the squirrel a lesson but he felt it was necessary.
Did the squirrel learn his lesson?
Yes the squirrel learned his lesson and he did not steal the mountain’s nuts again.
What do you think the mountain would have done if the squirrel had refused to stop stealing his nuts?
If the squirrel had refused to stop stealing the mountain’s nuts the mountain probably would have kept him captive until he changed his mind.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
