A Town Mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country. For lunch the Country Mouse served wheat stalks, roots, and acorns, with a dash of cold water for drink. The Town Mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simple food only to be polite.

Question

After the meal the friends had a long talk, or rather the Town Mouse talked about her life in the city while the Country Mouse listened. They then went to bed in a cozy nest in the hedgerow and slept in quiet and comfort until morning. In her sleep the Country Mouse dreamed she was a Town Mouse with all the luxuries and delights of city life that her friend had described for her. So the next day when the Town Mouse asked the Country Mouse to go home with her to the city, she gladly said yes.

When they reached the mansion in which the Town Mouse lived, they found on the table in the dining room the leavings of a very fine banquet. There were sweetmeats and jellies, pastries, delicious cheeses, indeed, the most tempting foods that a Mouse can imagine. But just as the Country Mouse was about to nibble a dainty bit of pastry, she heard a Cat mew loudly and scratch at the door. In great fear the Mice scurried to a hiding place, where they lay quite still for a long time, hardly daring to breathe. When at last they ventured back to the feast, the door opened suddenly and in came the servants to clear the table, followed by the House Dog.

The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse's den only long enough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella.

"You may have luxuries and dainties that I have not," she said as she hurried away, "but I prefer my plain food and simple life in the country with the peace and security that go with it."

what it the setting

Answer 1

The setting of the story takes place in two contrasting environments: the country and the city.

1. The Country: This is where the Country Mouse lives and where the initial part of the story unfolds. It is depicted as a peaceful, rural area filled with natural elements like wheat stalks, roots, and acorns. The setting conveys a sense of tranquility and simplicity, characterized by cozy nests and the comfort of a quiet lifestyle.

2. The City: The Town Mouse invites the Country Mouse to her home in the city, which is contrasted against the simplicity of the country. The setting is described as a mansion where a lavish banquet has taken place, featuring luxurious foods and delightful treats. However, this setting also includes dangers, such as the threat of a cat and a house dog, highlighting the perils of city life.

Overall, the juxtaposition of these two settings reflects the themes of luxury versus simplicity, danger versus security, and the varying definitions of comfort and happiness.