Sophie Bennett
The story of Chicken Little, or Chicken Licken, is a famous folk tale that has been adapted into songs, novels, films, and children's books. The story is about a chicken that gets struck by a falling acorn or leaf and is convinced that the sky is falling. Chicken Little then rushes to warn the king but is manipulated by a cunning fox, Foxy Loxy, who leads them to their den instead of the castle. The story has been adapted by Disney twice, first in 1943 as a short film warning about mass hysteria and Nazism, and then in 2005 as an animated feature film. The tale has also been used to teach moral lessons and has taken on American qualities in its various retellings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin of the story | Oral folk tradition |
| Earliest written record | Published by John Greene Chandler in 1840 |
| Other names for the story | "The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little", "The Story of Chicken-Licken", "The Wonderful Story of Henny Penny", "The Little Chicken Kluk and his companions" |
| Characters | Chicken Little, Hen-Pen, Duck-Luck, Goose-Loose, Fox-Lox, Turkey Lurkey, Goosey Lucy, Ducky Lucky, Henny Penny, Foxy Loxy |
| Plot | Chicken Little is walking in the woods when she is struck by an acorn falling from a tree. Convinced that the sky is falling in, she rushes to warn the king. On the way, she meets other animals who follow her to warn the king. They encounter Foxy Loxy, who offers to take them to the king but instead leads them to his den, where they are never seen again. |
| Moral of the story | Don't jump to conclusions, don't stoke fear without good cause, and don't blindly believe others, especially when they're making extraordinary claims |
| Disney adaptations | A 1943 short film, a 2005 animated feature film, and a 2005 American animated science fiction comedy film |
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What You'll Learn
The story's moral messages
The story of Chicken Little, or Chicken Licken, is a famous folk tale that has been passed down through generations. The basic plot revolves around a chicken who, after being struck by a falling object (usually an acorn), believes that the
The story of Chicken Little is known for its rich tradition and folklore, spanning cultures and generations. While the specific origins of the fable are unclear, it is believed to have originated from several European cultures, with early variations found in Denmark, Norway, and Italy. The tale was first published in Danish by a folklorist and scholar in 1823, following the lead of the Brothers Grimm. It later appeared in English-language publications in the mid-19th century, with various titles and character names.
- Don't form incorrect conclusions from insufficient data: Chicken Little's hasty generalisation about the sky falling based on limited evidence serves as a lesson in critical thinking and not jumping to conclusions.
- Don't stoke fear in others without good cause: By spreading fear and panic among the townsfolk or farmyard animals, Chicken Little and her friends become a cautionary tale about the dangers of creating mass hysteria and the importance of courage in the face of misinformation.
- Don't take others' word for things, especially when they make extraordinary claims: Chicken Little's friends blindly follow her without questioning her evidence or the extraordinary nature of her claim. This highlights the importance of seeking the truth and not merely accepting information at face value.
- Be brave, inquisitive, and always seek the truth: The tale encourages children to be courageous and curious, emphasising the value of seeking out information and evidence before jumping to conclusions.
- The consequences of spreading misinformation: In some versions of the story, Chicken Little's actions lead to negative repercussions, such as being ridiculed by the town or falling prey to the cunning fox. This underscores the importance of accurate information and the potential harm caused by spreading false alarms.
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Disney's 1943 short film
The story of Chicken Little, or Chicken Licken, is a famous folk tale. The basic story of Chicken Little varies in its details from telling to telling, but the essential plot tends to go something like this: a chicken, often named Chicken Little, is walking in the woods when she is struck by an acorn falling from a tree. Convinced that this is a sign that the sky is falling in, Chicken Little rushes from the woods to go and warn the king. On their way, they come across Foxy Loxy, who asks them why they are in such a hurry. Chicken Little explains that the sky is falling and that they are on their way to notify the king. Foxy Loxy offers to take them to the king, and the birds agree to accompany him. However, the cunning fox leads them not to the castle, but to his den, and the birds are never seen alive again.
In 1943, during World War II, Disney produced a short film based on the original tale of Chicken Little. The short film was meant to be used as war propaganda, specifically warning about mass hysteria with specific reference to the Nazis. In the short film, a narrator explains the story of Chicken Little, starting with the roosters, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese, who all live together in a farmyard. The short film tells a variant of the parable in which Foxy Loxy takes the advice of a book on psychology (on the original 1943 cut, it is Mein Kampf) by striking the least intelligent first. Dim-witted Chicken Little is convinced by him that the sky is falling and whips the farmyard into mass hysteria, which the unscrupulous fox manipulates for his own benefit. The dark comedy is used as an allegory for the idea that fear-mongering weakens the war effort and costs lives.
The 1943 short film was directed by Jack Cutting and Clyde Geronimi and featured voice actors such as Frank Graham, Florence Gill, Dorothy Lloyd, and Clarence Nash. The short film was later featured in an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color titled "Man Is His Own Worst Enemy", which first aired on October 21, 1962.
In 2005, Disney released a full-length remake of the 1943 short film, also titled Chicken Little. This version of the film is loosely inspired by the European folk tale "Henny Penny", known in the United States as "Chicken Little". Unlike the 1943 short film, this version of the film adds aliens, whose spaceship, or parts of it, fall from the sky. In this version, Chicken Little is ridiculed by his town for causing a panic, thinking that the sky was falling. A year later, he attempts to fix his reputation, followed by an unexpected truth regarding his past being revealed. The 2005 film was directed by Mark Dindal and starred Zach Braff as the titular character, with Joan Cusack, Dan Molina, Steve Zahn, Garry Marshall, and others in supporting roles.
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Disney's 2005 adaptation
The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on October 30, 2005, and was released in theatres on November 4, 2005. It is the 46th full-length film in the Disney Animated Canon and the first Disney in-house release to be rendered in Disney Digital 3-D. It is also Disney's first fully computer-animated film without Pixar's involvement. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $314 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2005.
The 2005 adaptation differs from the original folk tale by adding aliens, whose spaceship or parts of it, really do fall from the sky. This version has been criticised for missing the moral messages of the fable, as Chicken Little is vindicated for spreading mass fear among the townsfolk.
The development of the film included significant changes to the original concept. Initially, the main character was envisioned as a female chicken, with Holly Hunter cast in the role. However, it was later decided to make Chicken Little a male character, with Zach Braff ultimately cast in the role. The film also underwent a lengthy rewriting process, with twenty-five scenes being discarded to improve character development and add more emotional resonance to the parent-child relationship.
The film's soundtrack features an original score by John Debney and includes covers of popular songs such as "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and "Wannabe". It also spawned two video games, with one serving as a direct sequel to the film.
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The story's characters
The story of Chicken Little, also known as Chicken Licken, has been adapted into various films, books, and songs. The characters in the story vary depending on the version and the language in which it is told. Here is a list of some of the characters from different versions of the story:
The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little (1840):
- Chicken Little
- Hen-Pen
- Duck-Luck
- Goose-Loose
- Fox-Lox
Scots Version (1842):
- Henny Penny
- Cocky Locky
- Ducky Daddles
- Goosie Poosie
- An unnamed fox
The Story of Chicken-Licken (1849):
- Chicken-licken or Chicken-Licken
- Hen-len
- Cock-lock
- Duck-luck
- Drake-lake
- Goose-loose
- Gander-lander
- Turkey-lurkey
- Fox-lox
The Wonderful Story of Henny Penny (1850):
- Henny Penny
- Cocky Locky
- Ducky Daddles
- Goosie Poosie
- Foxy Loxy or Foxy Woxy
The Little Chicken Kluk and his companions (1853):
- Kylling Kluk
- Høne Pøne
- Hane Pane
- And Svand
- Gaase Paase
- Ræv Skræv
Walt Disney's Chicken Little (1943):
- Chicken Little
- Foxy Loxy
Walt Disney's Chicken Little (2005):
- Chicken Little
- Buck Cluck
- Aliens
These character lists showcase the variety of names and adaptations that have been applied to the original folk tale of Chicken Little over time and across different cultures.
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The story's origins
The story of Chicken Little, or Chicken Licken as the protagonist is sometimes known, is a famous folk tale. The tale was part of the oral folk tradition and only began to appear in print in the early 19th century. In the US, the most common name for the story is "Chicken Little", as attested by illustrated books for children dating from the early 19th century. In Britain, it is best known as "Henny Penny" and "Chicken Licken".
The basic story of Chicken Little varies in its details from telling to telling, but the essential plot tends to go something like this: a chicken, often named Chicken Little, is walking in the woods when she is struck by an acorn falling from a tree. Convinced that this is a sign that the sky is falling in, Chicken Little rushes from the woods to go and warn the king. On their way, they come across Foxy Loxy (a fox), who asks them why they are in such a hurry. Chicken Little explains that the sky is falling and that they are on their way to notify the king. Foxy Loxy offers to take them to the king, and the birds agree to accompany him. However, the cunning fox leads them not to the castle, but to his den, and the birds are never seen alive again.
The story was first published in Danish in 1823 by Just Mathias Thiele. An English version was published in 1842 by John Greene Chandler, an illustrator and wood engraver from Petersham, Massachusetts, under the title "The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little". In this version, Chicken Little is frightened by a leaf falling on her tail. A Scots version of the tale, titled "The hen and her fellow travellers", was published in 1842 by Robert Chambers. In 1849, a "very different" English version was published under the title "The Story of Chicken-Licken" by James Orchard Halliwell. In this version, Chicken-licken is startled when "an acorn fell on her bald pate".
The story continued to enjoy popularity in the twentieth century, with Disney producing a short film in 1943 warning about mass hysteria, with specific reference to the Nazis. A second Disney film, also called Chicken Little, was released in 2005.
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Frequently asked questions
The story of Chicken Little, also known as Chicken Licken, is about a chicken who is walking in the woods when she is struck by an acorn falling from a tree. Convinced that the sky is falling, Chicken Little rushes to warn the king. On the way, she meets Foxy Loxy, who offers to take her to the king but instead leads her to his den.
The story of Chicken Little is a famous folk tale that has been told to American children since the mid-1800s. The earliest printed version of the story is John Greene Chandler's 1840 illustrated children's book, "The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little".
The moral of the story is not to form incorrect conclusions from insufficient data, not to stoke fear in others without good cause, and not to take people's word for things, especially when they are making extraordinary claims.
The name "Chicken Little" is used as it is the most common name for the story in the United States. In Britain, the story is better known as “Henny Penny” or "Chicken Licken".
Yes, the story of Chicken Little has been adapted numerous times. Walt Disney Animation Studios has made two versions of the story: a 1943 animated short and a 2005 animated feature film. The story has also inspired songs by The Turtles, Aerosmith, and Idiot Flesh.
