The Tortoise and the Hare Vocabulary Reading Vocabulary from the Aesop's Fable Theme Tools A B forward toward what is in front or ahead backwards with the back first course the place where a race is held hare an animal that looks very much like an rabbit perseverance continuing to try to do something even though it is very difficult rewards things given in recognition of an achievement or hard work rules statements that tells how something may or may not be done tortoise a turtle that lives on land victory the winning of a contest or other competition