Aesop
|
Greece

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

A shepherd boy repeatedly cries wolf to trick villagers, but when a real wolf comes, no one believes him.
Honesty
Trust
Consequences
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a young shepherd boy who was responsible for watching over the village's flock of sheep. Every day, he would take the sheep to graze in a nearby meadow, while he sat on a hill and kept a watchful eye on them.

The boy was often bored and lonely, as there were no other children around to keep him company. One day, he decided to play a trick on the villagers to amuse himself. He ran down to the village, shouting at the top of his voice, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"

Hearing the boy's frantic cries, the villagers dropped everything they were doing and rushed to his aid, armed with sticks and stones to drive the wolf away. But when they arrived at the meadow, they found no wolf and the sheep grazing peacefully. The boy laughed and admitted that he had made up the story. The villagers were not amused and scolded him for wasting their time.

A few days later, the boy decided to play the same trick again. Once more, he ran to the village, shouting, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!" Again, the villagers rushed to help, only to find that there was no wolf, and the boy had lied to them again. They were angry and warned the boy not to cry wolf again when there was no danger.

Some time passed, and the boy continued to watch over the sheep. Then one day, a real wolf appeared, emerging from the woods and stalking towards the flock. The boy was terrified and cried out, "Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf is attacking the sheep!"

But this time, the villagers did not come running. They had been fooled twice before and did not believe him. They assumed the boy was just playing another trick on them. The wolf attacked the sheep, killing several and scattering the rest.

The boy was left alone, devastated by the consequences of his lies, realizing that his deception had led to the loss of the village's precious flock.

Once upon a time, a young shepherd boy took care of the village's sheep. Each day, he led them to a grassy field near the forest and watched over them from a hill.

The boy often felt bored and lonely because there were no other children to play with. One day, he had an idea for fun. He ran to the village, shouting, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"

Hearing his cries, the villagers dropped everything and rushed to help. But when they arrived, there was no wolf, and the sheep were fine. The boy burst out laughing.

“I tricked you!” he giggled.

The villagers frowned. “That’s not funny! Never lie about danger!” they scolded before marching back.

A few days later, the boy felt bored again. He decided to play the same trick. So he ran to the village and yelled, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"

Once more, the villagers rushed to help. But again, there was no wolf. The boy rolled on the ground, laughing.

This time, the villagers were furious. “Don’t cry wolf when there is no wolf!” they warned. “One day, no one will believe you.”

The boy shrugged. “They just don’t know how to have fun.”

Not long after, as the sky turned orange, the bushes rustled. A real wolf appeared. Its sharp teeth gleamed as it sneaked toward the sheep.

The boy’s heart pounded. “Oh no! It’s real this time!”

He ran to the village as fast as he could, screaming, “Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf is attacking the sheep! Please help!”

But the villagers didn’t believe him. “He’s just playing another trick,” they said, shaking their heads. No one came to help.

By the time the boy returned to the field, the sheep were gone. Some had run into the forest, while others had been hurt by the wolf.

The boy sat on the hill, crying. He had lied too many times. Now, when he truly needed help, no one believed him.

In a small town, there is a young boy. He takes care of the town's sheep. Every day, he takes the sheep to eat grass in a field. He sits on a hill and watches them.

The boy feels sad and alone. He has no friends. One day, he thinks of a game. He runs to the town and yells, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is here!"

The people in the town hear him. They run to help with sticks and stones. But there is no wolf. The sheep are fine. The boy laughs. He says it is a joke. The people are not happy. They say, "Do not lie."

A few days later, the boy does it again. "Wolf! Wolf!" he shouts. The people come again. But there is no wolf. They are very mad. They say, "Do not lie about the wolf."

Time goes by. Then, one day, a real wolf comes. It walks to the sheep. The boy is scared. He shouts, "Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf this time!"

But the people do not come. They think he is lying again. The wolf hurts the sheep. Many are lost.

The boy feels very sad. He learns that lying is bad. Because he lies, no one helps when the real wolf comes.

Once upon a time, a young shepherd boy took care of the village's sheep. Each day, he led them to a grassy field near the forest and watched over them from a hill.

The boy often felt bored and lonely because there were no other children to play with. One day, he had an idea for fun. He ran to the village, shouting, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"

Hearing his cries, the villagers dropped everything and rushed to help. But when they arrived, there was no wolf, and the sheep were fine. The boy burst out laughing.

“I tricked you!” he giggled.

The villagers frowned. “That’s not funny! Never lie about danger!” they scolded before marching back.

A few days later, the boy felt bored again. He decided to play the same trick. So he ran to the village and yelled, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"

Once more, the villagers rushed to help. But again, there was no wolf. The boy rolled on the ground, laughing.

This time, the villagers were furious. “Don’t cry wolf when there is no wolf!” they warned. “One day, no one will believe you.”

The boy shrugged. “They just don’t know how to have fun.”

Not long after, as the sky turned orange, the bushes rustled. A real wolf appeared. Its sharp teeth gleamed as it sneaked toward the sheep.

The boy’s heart pounded. “Oh no! It’s real this time!”

He ran to the village as fast as he could, screaming, “Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf is attacking the sheep! Please help!”

But the villagers didn’t believe him. “He’s just playing another trick,” they said, shaking their heads. No one came to help.

By the time the boy returned to the field, the sheep were gone. Some had run into the forest, while others had been hurt by the wolf.

The boy sat on the hill, crying. He had lied too many times. Now, when he truly needed help, no one believed him.

Once upon a time in a quirky little village, tucked away in a place where they might've still believed in things like dial-up internet, there was this shepherd boy. Oh, he wasn't your regular shepherd boy; he was the type who'd give you a wink and a nudge, all while watching the village's fluffy sheep.

Now, every day, our young fellow would take the sheep to graze, sitting atop a hill, twiddling his thumbs. Boredom could be a terrible thing, you know, especially with no video games around.

The boy, one day, thought, "Why not spice things up a bit?" So he went running down to the village, shouting, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep! And it's not even Tuesday!"

The villagers, who were rather used to a quiet life, dropped everything - even Mrs. Smith's famous pie (gasp!) - and charged over, brandishing sticks and stones like they were going on a grand adventure. But what did they find? Sheep, grazing, looking as confused as a cat at a dog show. The boy just chuckled, "Fooled you! Just like that time with the invisible dragon, remember?"

The villagers were not amused. They looked at him like he'd suggested putting ketchup on ice cream. "Enough with the wolf nonsense, young man!"

A few days later, the boy was at it again. "Wolf! Wolf!" he yelled. "I'm serious this time! It's even got a bow tie!" But when the villagers arrived, panting and puzzled, they found no dapper wolf, just a boy laughing his woolly socks off.

"You must think we were born yesterday," they said, shaking their heads and muttering about the youth of today.

Time went on, and the boy, as usual, was keeping an eye on the sheep. Then, lo and behold, a real wolf appeared! And it was not even wearing a bow tie! "Wolf! Wolf! A REAL wolf! And it's not even trying to be fashionable!" the boy screamed.

But this time, the villagers just looked at each other and one of them shrugged, saying, "A wolf, you say? Wearing what, a top hat and monocle next? Pull the other one!" They didn't come running. They'd had enough of the boy's tall tales.

The wolf, meanwhile, had a feast, gobbling up sheep and scattering the rest. The boy was left with his jaw on the ground, realizing that even a joke could go a baa-d way.

In a village tiny and sweet,
Lived a shepherd boy, oh so neat,
With a flock of sheep to care,
He sat on a hill, in the open air.

But the boy felt lonely, without a friend,
So, he thought of a trick, a means to an end,
Down to the village, he'd run with a shout,
"Wolf! Wolf!" he'd cry, without a doubt.

The villagers came with sticks and stones,
But found no wolf, just sheep and their bones,
The boy laughed and said, "It's just a jest!"
The villagers frowned, not quite impressed.

A second time, the boy cried "Wolf!" again,
The villagers came but found it was pretend,
Angry and tired, they warned him clear,
"Don't cry wolf, boy, when there's no wolf near!"

Time went by, the flock grazed with grace,
Then a real wolf came, a threatening face,
"Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf this time!"
Cried the boy, but it was like a mime.

The villagers stayed, not a step they took,
They thought it another trick, no second look,
The wolf attacked, and the sheep fled in fear,
The boy was alone, a lesson severe.

For lies may amuse but they also deceive,
And those who are tricked might never believe,
Even when the truth is clear as day,
A lie's shadow might not go away.

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Word Finder

  1. Shepherd

    A person who takes care of sheep.

  2. Villagers

    People who live in a small town.

  3. Grassy

    Covered with lots of green grass everywhere.

  4. Frowned

    Face looks unhappy or upset.

  5. Scolded

    Spoke angrily to correct bad behavior.

  6. Furious

    Very, very angry about something.

  7. Shrugged

    Lifted shoulders to show not caring.

  8. Rustled

    Made a soft, crackling sound.

  9. Sneaked

    Moved quietly to not be seen.

  10. Gleamed

    Shined brightly in the light.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why did the shepherd boy feel bored and lonely?
  2. What did the boy do to entertain himself the first time he felt bored?
  3. How did the villagers react the first time they discovered there was no wolf?
  4. What was the villagers' response the second time the boy lied about the wolf?
  5. What happened to the sheep when a real wolf came after the boy had lied twice about a wolf attack?
Word Finder
  1. Hill

    High ground, small mountain.

  2. Feels

    Has emotions, like happy or sad.

  3. Friends

    People you like and know.

  4. Game

    Fun activity, like playing.

  5. Yells

    Shouts loudly to be heard.

  6. Sticks

    Small pieces of wood.

  7. Joke

    Funny story, not serious.

  8. Lying

    Saying something not true.

  9. Hurts

    Causes pain or harm.

  10. Lost

    Not found, gone missing.

  1. Shepherd

    A person who takes care of sheep.

  2. Villagers

    People who live in a small town.

  3. Grassy

    Covered with lots of green grass everywhere.

  4. Frowned

    Face looks unhappy or upset.

  5. Scolded

    Spoke angrily to correct bad behavior.

  6. Furious

    Very, very angry about something.

  7. Shrugged

    Lifted shoulders to show not caring.

  8. Rustled

    Made a soft, crackling sound.

  9. Sneaked

    Moved quietly to not be seen.

  10. Gleamed

    Shined brightly in the light.

Understanding Questions
  1. Where does the boy take the sheep?

    1. To the river
    2. To the field
    3. To the house
    4. To the market
  2. What does the boy shout to the people?

    1. "Help! Fire!"
    2. "Wolf! Wolf!"
    3. "Rain! Rain!"
    4. "Snake! Snake!"
  3. How do the people feel when there is no wolf?

    1. Happy
    2. Mad
    3. Sad
    4. Scared
  4. What happens when a real wolf comes?

    1. People help.
    2. People do not come.
    3. The boy laughs.
    4. The sheep are safe.
  5. What does the boy learn at the end?

    1. Lying is fun.
    2. Lying is bad.
    3. Lying is good.
    4. Lying is easy.
  1. Why did the shepherd boy feel bored and lonely?
  2. What did the boy do to entertain himself the first time he felt bored?
  3. How did the villagers react the first time they discovered there was no wolf?
  4. What was the villagers' response the second time the boy lied about the wolf?
  5. What happened to the sheep when a real wolf came after the boy had lied twice about a wolf attack?
  1. What did the young shepherd do to entertain himself while watching over the sheep?
  2. How did the villagers initially react when the boy cried out, “Wolf! Wolf!”?
  3. What was the villagers' response after the boy’s second false alarm about the wolf?
  4. Describe the villagers' reaction when the boy cried wolf for the third time, and explain why they reacted that way.
  5. What were the consequences of the boy’s actions when a real wolf finally appeared?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why did the shepherd boy shout “Wolf!” the first time?
  2. What happened when the real wolf came to attack the sheep?
  3. Have you ever told a lie that caused others not to believe you later? How did it make you feel?
  4. Why is it important to tell the truth, even if it’s tempting to lie?
  5. Are there situations in which not telling the truth is okay?
Fable Quotes
When you speak the truth, trust blooms like a flower.
Trust is earned by words and deeds, not by tricks and lies.
Deception sows seeds of sorrow, reaping a harvest of regret.
Just One More Fable
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