In the warm countryside of the old American South, where pine trees whispered and fields shimmered in the sun, there lived a clever creature known to all as Brer Rabbit. He was small and quick, with bright eyes that always seemed to be plotting something. Though many animals were stronger, none could match him for brains or charm. Brer Rabbit knew that in a world full of bigger beasts, a sharp mind was the best defense a little fellow could have.
Now, Brer Rabbit had a habit of teasing others, especially Brer Fox and Brer Bear, who didn’t take kindly to being outsmarted. Time and again, they tried to catch him, but each scheme ended in laughter and dust as the quick-witted rabbit slipped away. At last, Brer Fox grew so angry he decided to catch Brer Rabbit once and for all.
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“Brer Bear,” he said one morning, “that trickster’s made fools of us long enough. Let’s build a trap so clever he can’t wriggle out of it.”
Together, they worked in the heat of the day, mixing sticky tar and shaping it into a figure that looked just like a person. They dressed it in old clothes and set it right by the road. “We’ll call it the Tar Baby,” Brer Fox said, grinning. “When that nosy rabbit comes along, he’ll talk himself straight into trouble.”
The Rabbit Meets the Trap
Sure enough, the next morning Brer Rabbit came hopping down the road, whistling a tune and feeling mighty pleased with himself. When he saw the strange figure sitting there, he tipped his hat politely.
“Mornin’, suh,” he said cheerfully. “Fine day, ain’t it?”
The tar figure didn’t answer. Brer Rabbit frowned. “What’s the matter? Ain’t you got no manners?” Still, no reply.
Feeling insulted, Brer Rabbit puffed up his chest. “I said good mornin’!” he repeated, louder this time. The tar figure sat silent.
“Well, I’ll be!” cried Brer Rabbit, tugging and pulling, but his paw wouldn’t budge. Angry now, he swung with the other paw, and that one stuck too! He kicked and wriggled until his legs got caught, and finally, with a desperate head-butt, his face was stuck as well.
There he was, Brer Rabbit, proud trickster of the woods, trapped tight in the sticky tar.
Caught by Brer Fox
Out from behind the bushes stepped Brer Fox, laughing so hard he nearly fell over. “Well, well, well! Look what the wind blew in. Ain’t you the polite one, Brer Rabbit?”
Brer Rabbit’s ears drooped. He knew he was in a fix.
Brer Fox strutted around him, thinking aloud. “Now, let’s see… I could roast you, or maybe hang you, or skin you, or…”
Brer Rabbit interrupted, his voice trembling. “Brer Fox, you can do anything you like, roast me, skin me, hang me, but please, whatever you do, don’t throw me in that briar patch!”
Brer Fox stopped short. “Don’t throw you in the briar patch, huh?”
“No, sir! Not the briar patch!” said Brer Rabbit, eyes wide with fear, or so it seemed.
Brer Fox grinned from ear to ear. “Why, that’s exactly what I’ll do then!”
The Trick Revealed
With a laugh, Brer Fox picked him up and flung him straight into the thick, thorny briar patch. Brer Rabbit disappeared among the brambles with a rustle and a yelp.
Brer Fox dusted his hands. “That’ll teach him to mess with me.”
But before long, he heard something strange, laughter. Out from the middle of the briars popped Brer Rabbit, hopping along the branches as light as a feather.
“Thank you, Brer Fox!” he called out between chuckles. “You done me a favor! Born and bred in the briar patch, that’s where I feel right at home!”
And with that, he bounded away into the thicket, free as ever.
Brer Fox could only stare, his mouth hanging open. He had fallen for Brer Rabbit’s trick again.
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Moral Lesson
Brer Rabbit’s story teaches that clever thinking and calm wit can triumph over strength and danger. Even when trapped, he used words and quick reasoning to turn his enemies’ plans against them. The tale reminds us that resourcefulness, not size or power, often determines survival, especially in times of hardship.
Knowledge Check
1. Who is Brer Rabbit in African American folklore?
Brer Rabbit is a clever trickster who uses intelligence and humor to outwit stronger animals.
2. What trap do Brer Fox and Brer Bear create to catch Brer Rabbit?
They build a sticky figure called the Tar Baby to trap Brer Rabbit when he strikes it.
3. How does Brer Rabbit escape the Tar Baby trap?
He tricks Brer Fox into throwing him into the briar patch, where he was born and can easily escape.
4. What is the moral lesson of “How the Rabbit Got His Tricks”?
The story teaches that intelligence and calm thinking can defeat brute strength and anger.
5. Where does the tale of Brer Rabbit originate?
The story originates from African American folklore of the U.S. South, influenced by West African trickster tales.
6. What symbolizes freedom in Brer Rabbit’s story?
The briar patch symbolizes home, safety, and the strength of being true to one’s roots.
Source:
Adapted from Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston (1935).
Cultural Origin: African American folklore, Southern United States.
