Aesop
|
Greece

The Bull and The Calf

A powerful bull rejects a young calf's offer to help, but ends up getting stuck while the calf walks away.
Pride
Acceptance
Humility
Aesop's Fables - The Bull and The Calf
Audio available for B1 version

In a vast green pasture, there lived a big and powerful Bull. Nearby, in the same field, a young and eager Calf spent his days playing and learning from the older animals.

One sunny afternoon, the Bull found himself at a narrow passage leading to his stall. He was big, much too big, and the passage was tight, too tight. He stood there, scratching his head, trying to figure out how to squeeze himself through.

Watching from a distance, the young Calf saw the Bull's problem. Seeing an opportunity to help, he trotted up to the Bull and said, "Let me show you how to go through the passage. I am smaller and can fit easily."

The Bull, with his big horns and strong muscles, looked down at the Calf. He snorted and replied, "I have walked through this passage many times before you were even born. I know my way."

Ignoring the Calf's offer, the Bull decided to force his way through. He charged at the passage, but instead of making it through, he got stuck. His big body was wedged tightly between the two sides.

The Calf, seeing the Bull's struggle, couldn't help but shake his head. He went off on his way, leaving the Bull to free himself from the narrow passage.

In a big green field, there is a big Bull. Near him, a young Calf plays and learns from the older animals.

One day, the Bull sees a narrow path. The path leads to his home. The Bull is big, and the path looks too small. He stops and thinks.

The Calf watches the Bull. He wants to help. The Calf says, "I can show you. I am small, and I can go through."

The Bull looks at the Calf. He says, "I have used this path before. I know what to do."

The Bull tries to go through the path. He pushes hard, but he gets stuck. His big body is too big for the small path.

The Calf sees the Bull stuck. He shakes his head and walks away. The Bull stays stuck in the path.

In a large green field, there lived a big and strong Bull. Not far from him, a young and lively Calf spent his days playing and learning from the older animals.

One bright afternoon, the Bull came across a narrow path leading to his stall. He was very large, and the path seemed too narrow for him. He stopped and thought about how to fit through.

The Calf, who was watching from afar, noticed the Bull's problem. Wanting to help, he ran over to the Bull and said, "Let me show you how to get through the path. I'm smaller and can pass through easily."

The Bull, with his large horns and strong body, looked down at the Calf. He snorted and said, "I have been using this path long before you were born. I know what to do."

Despite the Calf's suggestion, the Bull decided to try and push his way through. He rushed towards the path, but instead of getting through, he got stuck. His big body was tightly squeezed between the two sides of the path.

The Calf, seeing the Bull struggling, shook his head and walked away, leaving the Bull to figure out how to free himself from the narrow path.

In a very, very green pasture, where the grass looked like a giant green blanket, there lived a Bull who was so big, he could be mistaken for a hill! Nearby, a bouncy little Calf loved playing pretend and asking the other animals funny questions.

One shiny, bright afternoon, the Bull found himself in front of a narrow passage leading to his home. The Bull was big, like a really big stuffed teddy bear, and the passage was as tight as a hug from Grandma. He stood there, scratching his head, looking like he lost his favorite toy.

Watching from afar, the Calf saw the Bull's problem and thought, "Ooh! A puzzle!" He trotted up to the Bull and said, "Mr. Bull, watch me dance through the passage. I'm small like a bunny and can fit right through!"

The Bull, with his big horns that looked like fancy party hats, looked down at the Calf and snorted, "Little friend, I've been through this passage more times than you've had bedtime stories. I don't need help!"

But instead of listening to the Calf, the Bull decided he'd try to push his way through. He ran at the passage like a toy train off its tracks but got stuck. His big body was squished like a marshmallow in a sandwich.

The Calf, seeing the Bull's funny pickle, shook his head and giggled, "Mr. Bull, you look like you're playing dress-up with the walls! Next time, maybe we can dance through together?"

He then trotted off, leaving the Bull to play his new game of "Stuck in the Passage."

Once upon a wide green glade,
A strong Bull in the sun did wade.
Close by, a Calf did hop and play,
Learning from the old ones every day.

One sunny day, to the Bull's surprise,
A narrow passage caught his eyes.
"It seems too small," the Bull did muse,
"How did I pass, without a bruise?"

The Calf, who watched, thought, "I can guide!"
And ran to the Bull, standing by his side.
"Mr. Bull," he said with glee,
"Let me show how easy it can be."

The Bull looked down, proud and grand,
Said, "Little Calf, you don't understand.
Long before you came to be,
I've crossed this way, easily."

But the Bull, stubborn and bold,
Charged the path, but alas, he couldn't hold.
Stuck tight, without much glee,
The passage was a challenge, as we can see.

The Calf smiled and said with grace,
"It's not always about winning the race."
With a skip, he continued his play,
While the Bull learned a lesson that day.

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Word Finder

  1. Bull

    Big male animal with horns, like cow.

  2. Calf

    Young cow or bull, very small.

  3. Field

    Big open area with grass and flowers.

  4. Narrow

    Not wide, very small and thin.

  5. Path

    Small road or way to walk through.

  6. Leads

    Shows the way to go somewhere.

  7. Through

    In one side and out the other side.

  8. Pushes

    Uses force to move something forward.

  9. Shakes

    Moves quickly from side to side.

  10. Stuck

    Cannot move, held in one place tightly.

  1. Lively

    Full of energy and enthusiasm.

  2. Afternoon

    The time between noon and evening.

  3. Across

    Moving from one side to the other.

  4. Narrow

    Not wide, having a small width.

  5. Problem

    A situation needing a solution or answer.

  6. Easily

    Without difficulty or effort.

  7. Snorted

    Made a loud sound through the nose.

  8. Suggestion

    An idea or plan offered for consideration.

  9. Rushed

    Moved quickly or with urgency.

  10. Struggling

    Finding something difficult to do.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where does the fable take place?

    1. In a small town
    2. In a big green field
    3. In a forest
    4. In a house
  2. Who plays and learns from the older animals?

    1. A young Calf
    2. A big Bull
    3. A small dog
    4. A large cat
  3. What does the Bull see one day?

    1. A river
    2. A narrow path
    3. A big tree
    4. A small hill
  4. Why does the Bull get stuck?

    1. He is too tired.
    2. The path is too small for him.
    3. He sees another animal.
    4. He is afraid.
  5. How does the story end?

    1. The Bull finds a new path.
    2. The Calf is able to help the Bull.
    3. The Bull stays stuck in the path.
    4. The Calf stays with the Bull.
  1. Where did the Calf spend his days playing and learning?
  2. What problem did the Bull face when he came across the narrow path?
  3. How did the Calf offer to help the Bull?
  4. What was the Bull's response to the Calf's suggestion?
  5. What happened when the Bull tried to push his way through the narrow path?
  1. What was the initial problem faced by the Bull when he encountered the narrow path?
  2. How did the Calf try to assist the Bull in navigating the narrow path?
  3. What was the Bull's response to the Calf's offer of help, and what does it reveal about his character?
  4. What was the consequence of the Bull's decision to ignore the Calf's suggestion?
  5. How did the Calf react after seeing the Bull's struggle to get through the narrow path?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Bull didn't accept the Calf's help at first?
  2. How do you think the Bull felt when he got stuck in the passage?
  3. Can you think of a time when you or someone else didn't listen to useful advice?
  4. What does this story teach us about pride and the willingness to accept help from others?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our daily lives, at school or at home?

Fable Quotes

The bigger your pride, the harder the fall.
Every helping hand holds value, no matter how small.
Humility is the gate that opens the way for help when we're stuck.
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