Description

This classic story has been used as an archetypical example of one of Freud’s psychological defense mechanisms or rationalizations.  The ‘Sour Grapes’ defense describes situations where we assume some false pretense to explain that we really don’t want something we can’t have anyway, and likely really do want.  In this story the Fox wants the grapes, but their too high.  After not being able to get them he assumes they must have been sour anyway.

Discussion Questions

• Do you think the grapes were actually sour?
• Why do you think the Fox said they were?

Keywords: psychology, stories, storytelling, children, kids, Aesop, fables, Freud