History Literature / TheGrasshopperAndTheAnts

* {{Disneyfication}}: Many modern adaptations prefer the outcome of the ants taking pity on the Grasshopper and offering him shelter for the one winter, but with the stern warning to work for his living from now on. In some others, the Grasshopper suffers the winter, but lives to learn from his mistakes and prepares for next winter.

** ''Disney/TheTiggerMovie'' has a light retool of it as a side story. The other animals are too busy helping Tigger with his personal dilemma to prepare for the winter. The hard working Rabbit scolds them for this, but when things worsen he takes pity as well. For their loyalty however, Tigger afterwards supplies for them, compromising the two endings to show both sides can come out better looking out for each other.

* A notable third ending, written by Jacques-Melchior Villefranche, has the ants turning the Grasshopper away, but shortly after his departure the anthill is wiped out in a freak snowstorm. Now homeless and desperate, the ants beg shelter of their neighbors, the Honeybees. The queen of the honeybees at first [[IronicEcho repeats to them their own heartless words to the Grasshopper,]] and then [[JerkassFacade lets them into the hive]], where the Grasshopper is already providing music and being sheltered. The lesson here is the same as the first ending, with the added twist that the best laid plans can be wrecked by chance, so have compassion on others - you'd want the same for yourself.

** In a [[RussianHumour Russian joke]], the grasshopper (a female) passes the ant during the winter while she is [[PrettyInMink wearing a fur coat]] and he is working hard wearing a torn coat and boots:
---> '''Ant''': Hey, grasshopper, where are you going?\\

'''Ant''': Listen, if you'll see Krylov[[note]]the best known popularizer of Aesop's fables in Russia[[/note]] there, tell him he's a bullshiter.

** ''Pixar/ABugsLife'' had a darker deconstruction. The film's Grasshoppers just mug the ants for their food every winter. The story revolves around the ants mustering an army to stand up to them. However at the end, one of the Grasshoppers, Molt, leaves his former life of decadence to work in the circus as a strongman, because anybody is capable of change.

* MeaningfulEcho: In the ''Silly Symphonies'' short, the Grasshopper sings the song "The World Owes Us A Living" (a theme later used for Disney/{{Goofy}}), which reflects his laidback lifestyle. Once he's allowed to stay with the ants in exchange for entertaining them, he changes his tune (most of his lyrics, actually) to "I Owe The World A Living", which now reflects his resolution to work hard.

* MeaningfulEcho: In the ''Silly Symphonies'' short, the Grasshopper sings the song "The World Owes Us A Living" (a theme previously used for Disney/{{Goofy}}), which reflects his laidback lifestyle. Once he's allowed to stay with the ants in exchange for entertaining them, he changes his tune (most of his lyrics, actually) to "I Owe The World A Living", which now reflects his resolution to work hard.

In midsummer, life is easy and food is aplenty. The Grasshopper hops from place to place, singing n' fiddling all the day long. He[[note]]actually, the original has everyone as females[[/note]] makes fun of the ants, who waste the sunshine by working from dawn to dusk. They either coldly ignore him or warn that [[Theatre/TwelfthNight his pleasure will be paid, one way or another.]] Heedless, the Grasshopper plays on.

JumpCut to wintertime. The Grasshopper, shivering and starving, sees that in the anthill there's plenty of warmth and food. He knocks at the door and begs to be let in, and some versions include him offering to play music (or teach music to the ants' children) in exchange for food and shelter. Three different endings are possible:

In midsummer, life is easy and food is aplenty. The Grasshopper hops from place to place, singing n' fiddling all the day long. He makes fun of the ants, who waste the sunshine by working from dawn to dusk. They either coldly ignore him or warn that [[Theatre/TwelfthNight his pleasure will be paid, one way or another.]] Heedless, the Grasshopper plays on.

* {{Disneyfication}}: Many modern adaptations prefer the outcome of the ants taking pity on the Grasshopper and offering him shelter for the one winter, but with the stern warning to work for his living from now on. In some others, the Grasshopper suffers the winter, but lives to learn from mistakes and prepares for next winter.

** ''Disney/TheTiggerMovie'' has a light retool of it as a side story. The other animals are too busy helping Tigger with his personal dilemma to prepare for the winter. The hard working Rabbit scolds them for this, but when things worsen he takes pity as well. For their loyalty however, Tigger afterwards supplies for them.

** ''Disney/TheTiggerMovie'' has a light retool of it as a side story. The other animals are too busy helping Tigger with his personal dilemma to prepare for the winter. For their loyalty however, Tigger afterwards supplies for them.

** ''Pixar/ABugsLife'' had a darker deconstruction. The film's Grasshoppers apparently just mug the ants for their food every winter. The story revolves around the ants mustering an army to stand up to them.

* {{Disneyfication}}: Many modern adaptations prefer the outcome of the ants taking pity on the Grasshopper and offering him shelter for the one winter, but with the stern warning to work for his living from now on. Naturally evident in the Disney ''Silly Symphonies'' variation.

** ''Disney/ATiggerMovie'' has a light retool of it as a side story. The other animals are too busy helping Tigger with his personal dilemma to prepare for the winter. For their loyalty however, Tigger afterwards supplies for them.

* The often utilised ending has the ants take pity on him and bring him into the hill. He plays for them, and while the Grasshopper learns a lesson about hard work and responsibility, the Ants learn to have fun and loosen up, because neither extreme is healthy.

* {{Disneyfication}}: Naturally many modern adaptations prefer the outcome of the ants taking sympathy on the Grasshopper and providing for him, but with the stern warning to learn to fend for himself from now on. Naturally evident in the Disney ''Silly Symphonies'' variation.

* NoSympathy: The Ants in the ending they offer no help for the Grasshopper. These days it is often seen as apathetic to leave some shuck to die on principal he was lazy and unprepared.

* The ants take pity on him and bring him into the hill. He plays for them, and while the Grasshopper learns a lesson about hard work and responsibility, the Ants learn to have fun and loosen up, because neither extreme is healthy.
* The ants tell the Grasshopper that he should have prepared during the summer. Now that it's winter, let him sup on songs and dine on dancing. They slam the door in his face, leaving him to die in the snow, because everyone should reap what they sow.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Certainly disproportionate if the reader sees the Grasshopper as sympathetic, especially if the Grasshopper had offered to be a music-teacher to the Ants' children -- which anyone will notice, is honest work for honest pay.

[[JumpCut Fast-forward to wintertime]]. The Grasshopper, shivering and starving, sees that in the anthill there's plenty of warmth and food. He knocks at the door and begs to be let in, and some versions include him offering to play music (or teach music to the ants' children) in exchange for food and shelter. Three different endings are possible:

[[JumpCut Fast-forward to wintertime]]. The Grasshopper, shivering and starving, sees that in the anthill there's plenty of warmth and food. He knocks at the door and begs to be let in, offering to play music (or teach music to the ants' children) in exchange for food and shelter. Three different endings are possible:

''The Grasshopper and the Ants'' is a famous [[Literature/AesopsFables Aesop's Fable]], whose allegorical stars are the high-living, fancy-free Grasshopper (sometimes called the Cicada) and the solid, industrious Ants of the anthill.

* AllWorkVsAllPlay

In midsummer, life is easy and food is aplenty. The Grasshopper hops from place to place, singing n' fiddling all the day long. He makes fun of the ants, who waste the sunshine by working from dawn to dusk. They either coldly ignore him or warn that [[Theater/TwelfthNight his pleasure will be paid, one way or another.]] Heedless, the Grasshopper plays on.

Very loose inspiration for the film ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', and also inspired a ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies'' from Disney.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Even when the second ending is chosen, there is room for discussion aplenty on whether the moral is to be taken as "the grasshopper was lazy, irresponsible and got what was coming to him" or "poor grasshopper, the ants are Jerkasses". Jean de la Fontaine`s version goes with the second ending. Given how his other fables tend to be critical of misers, chances are he meant the grasshopper as sympathetic.