Aesop
|
Greece

The Goat and The Goatherd

A diligent Goatherd looked after a flock of goats but accidentally broke the horn of one, realizing that mistakes cannot be concealed.
Responsibility
Forgiveness
Empathy
Aesop's Fables - The Goat and The Goatherd
Audio available for B1 version

In a distant land, there lived a hardworking Goatherd. He took care of a large flock of goats that roamed freely on the lush green hillside. He knew each goat by name and would guide them through the valley, whistling a tune and blowing his horn to keep them close.

One day, as the sun began to set, the Goatherd noticed one of his goats had strayed far from the flock. With a quick blow of his horn and a sharp whistle, he tried to call the wayward goat back. However, the goat was stubborn and refused to return, munching on a patch of delicious grass it had discovered.

The Goatherd became worried as it was getting darker, and the flock needed to return to the safety of the barn. In a last desperate attempt, he picked up a small stone and threw it towards the goat, hoping to startle it and bring it back to the flock.

To his dismay, the stone flew straight and hit the goat's horn, causing it to crack and break. The goat let out a pitiful bleat, and the Goatherd quickly ran over, filled with regret.

"I'm so sorry," he pleaded to the Goat, "Please, don't tell our master what happened."

The Goat, though in pain, looked at the Goatherd and replied calmly, "Even if I stay silent, my horn will tell the story for itself."

With this, the Goatherd understood that he couldn't hide his mistake. He gently guided the injured goat back to the barn, vowing to take better care next time and avoid hasty actions that could harm his charges.

In a faraway place, there was a goatherd who worked very hard looking after a big group of goats. These goats wandered freely on a grassy hillside. He knew each goat by its name and led them through the valleys, whistling tunes and blowing his horn to keep them together.

One evening, as the sun was setting, the goatherd noticed that one goat had wandered far from the group. He quickly blew his horn and whistled loudly to call the stray goat back. But the goat was stubborn and kept eating a tasty patch of grass it had found.

The goatherd started to worry because it was getting dark and he needed to bring the goats back to the safety of their barn. In a final attempt to get the goat's attention, he threw a stone, hoping to scare it into returning.

Unfortunately, the stone hit the goat's horn, breaking it. The goat cried out sadly, and the goatherd ran over, feeling very sorry.

"I'm so sorry," he said to the goat, "Please, don't let our master know what happened."

Even though the goat was hurt, it looked at the goatherd and said calmly, "Even if I don't say anything, my broken horn will show what happened."

Hearing this, the goatherd realized he couldn't hide his mistake. He carefully led the hurt goat back to the barn, promising to himself to be more careful in the future and not make quick decisions that could hurt his goats.

There is a man. He takes care of goats. He has many goats. The goats eat grass on a hill. The man knows each goat. He calls them by name. He blows his horn to keep them together.

One day, the sun goes down. The man sees one goat is far away. He blows his horn. He whistles. But the goat does not come back. The goat keeps eating grass.

The man is worried. It is getting dark. He wants to take the goats to the barn. He throws a small stone to scare the goat.

But the stone hits the goat's horn. The horn breaks. The goat cries. The man feels very sorry.

"I am sorry," he says. "Please, do not tell our master."

The goat is sad but calm. The goat says, "My horn shows what happened."

The man knows he cannot hide his mistake. He takes the goat to the barn. He promises to be more careful.

In a faraway place, there was a goatherd who worked very hard looking after a big group of goats. These goats wandered freely on a grassy hillside. He knew each goat by its name and led them through the valleys, whistling tunes and blowing his horn to keep them together.

One evening, as the sun was setting, the goatherd noticed that one goat had wandered far from the group. He quickly blew his horn and whistled loudly to call the stray goat back. But the goat was stubborn and kept eating a tasty patch of grass it had found.

The goatherd started to worry because it was getting dark and he needed to bring the goats back to the safety of their barn. In a final attempt to get the goat's attention, he threw a stone, hoping to scare it into returning.

Unfortunately, the stone hit the goat's horn, breaking it. The goat cried out sadly, and the goatherd ran over, feeling very sorry.

"I'm so sorry," he said to the goat, "Please, don't let our master know what happened."

Even though the goat was hurt, it looked at the goatherd and said calmly, "Even if I don't say anything, my broken horn will show what happened."

Hearing this, the goatherd realized he couldn't hide his mistake. He carefully led the hurt goat back to the barn, promising to himself to be more careful in the future and not make quick decisions that could hurt his goats.

In a land where the hills were so green they'd make you jealous, there was a Goatherd. Oh, not just any Goatherd! He was like the superhero of goat herders. When he whistled and tooted his horn, the goats listened as if he was singing their favorite bedtime story.

Now, this one day, right when the sun's saying, "Bye-bye, gotta go sleep," our Goatherd notices one of his goats has gone on a little snack adventure. This goat found a patch of grass so yummy it was like finding a treasure chest full of candy!

Goatherd goes full-on orchestra mode, blowing his horn and whistling. But this goat’s like, "Nah, I'm good. This grass is like my pizza, my ice cream, my everything!"

Time's running out, and Goatherd thinks, "Okay, let's give this goat a little surprise." He picks up a small stone and throws it. Zing! Crash! Oh-oh. The goat's horn cracks like a poorly built Lego tower.

The goat lets out a big "Meeehhh," which is goat for, "Hey! What's the big idea?"

Feeling like he stepped on a Lego, Goatherd runs over, saying, "Oh, that was bad, wasn't it? Can we, you know, keep it hush-hush?"

The goat looks up, all sage-like, and says, "Hush-hush? My broken horn will be screaming the news, buddy!"

Aha! Light bulb moment for Goatherd. "You're right, you're right. Can't hide the truth, can we?"

After that, Goatherd leads his fashionable, horn-challenged friend back to the gang. "No more stones from me, ever. Just sweet music and maybe a treat or two."

And from then on, Goatherd's actions were as gentle as a bedtime story. The goats still loved him, but let’s just say the goat with the broken horn got some extra-special treats.

The Goatherd sang, with a hillside so wide,
Guiding his goats, always side by side.
With a tune on his lips and horn in his hand,
He led them through valleys, across the lush land.

But one curious goat, to a meadow did stray,
Finding sweet grass, it decided to stay.
The Goatherd, he whistled and blew on his horn,
Hoping the goat back, as night soon was born.

As shadows grew long and the daylight did wane,
His worry grew deep, with each passing terrain.
A stone in his hand, he aimed with intent,
Hoping the goat would return, from where it went.

But alas! The stone flew, the horn it did crack,
A sound of pure sorrow, there was no turning back.
The goat cried in pain, as the Goatherd drew near,
In his eyes were the droplets, like rain about to pour.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, his voice full of woe,
"Forgive me dear goat, for the pain I did bestow."
The goat replied gently, its voice soft and low,
"My horn will tell tales of this blow."

Promising care, with lessons held tight,
The Goatherd led home, as stars lit the night.
His actions a lesson, for all to perceive,
Think twice before acting, or you might just grieve.

Share
Feedback

Word Finder

  1. Goatherd

    A person who looks after goats.

  2. Wandered

    Walked around without a specific direction.

  3. Whistling

    Making a high-pitched sound by blowing air.

  4. Valleys

    Low areas between hills or mountains.

  5. Stubborn

    Unwilling to change or move.

  6. Attention

    Focusing on something or someone.

  7. Attempt

    Trying to do something.

  8. Horn

    Hard, pointed part on a goat's head.

  9. Unfortunately

    Happening in a way that is sad or unlucky.

  10. Realized

    Understood something clearly.

Understanding Questions

  1. What did the goatherd do when he noticed that one goat had wandered far from the group?
  2. Why did the goatherd start to worry when the goat didn't return?
  3. What happened when the goatherd threw a stone at the goat?
  4. How did the goat respond to the goatherd after its horn was broken?
  5. What lesson did the goatherd learn at the end of the story?

Word Finder

  1. Takes care

    Looks after or helps keep safe.

  2. Together

    In one place or group, not separate.

  3. Far away

    A long distance from here or there.

  4. Whistles

    Makes a sound by blowing air from lips.

  5. Worried

    Feels bad because of thinking something is wrong.

  6. Barn

    A big building for keeping animals or things.

  7. Scare

    Make someone or something feel afraid.

  8. Horn

    A hard, pointed part on a goat's head.

  9. Sorry

    Feeling bad for doing something wrong.

  10. Mistake

    Something done wrong or incorrect.

  1. Goatherd

    A person who looks after goats.

  2. Wandered

    Walked around without a specific direction.

  3. Whistling

    Making a high-pitched sound by blowing air.

  4. Valleys

    Low areas between hills or mountains.

  5. Stubborn

    Unwilling to change or move.

  6. Attention

    Focusing on something or someone.

  7. Attempt

    Trying to do something.

  8. Horn

    Hard, pointed part on a goat's head.

  9. Unfortunately

    Happening in a way that is sad or unlucky.

  10. Realized

    Understood something clearly.

Understanding Questions

  1. What does the man take care of?

    1. Cows
    2. Sheep
    3. Goats
    4. Horses
  2. Where do the goats eat grass?

    1. In a field
    2. On a hill
    3. In a barn
    4. By the river
  3. How does the man call the goats?

    1. By clapping
    2. By blowing a horn
    3. By shouting
    4. By ringing a bell
  4. What happens to one goat at the end of the day?

    1. It runs away.
    2. It sleeps.
    3. It breaks its horn.
    4. It jumps.
  5. How does the man feel when he breaks the goat's horn?

    1. Happy
    2. Angry
    3. Sorry
    4. Excited
  1. What did the goatherd do when he noticed that one goat had wandered far from the group?
  2. Why did the goatherd start to worry when the goat didn't return?
  3. What happened when the goatherd threw a stone at the goat?
  4. How did the goat respond to the goatherd after its horn was broken?
  5. What lesson did the goatherd learn at the end of the story?
  1. What methods did the goatherd use to keep his herd of goats together on the hillside?
  2. How did the goatherd initially attempt to call back the stray goat when it did not return to the group?
  3. What caused the goat to cry out in pain, and what was the goatherd's reaction to this incident?
  4. How did the injured goat respond to the goatherd's plea to keep the incident a secret from their master?
  5. What lesson did the goatherd learn from his experience with the injured goat, and how did it influence his future actions?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Goatherd threw a stone at the goat?
  2. How do you think the Goat felt when its horn was broken?
  3. Can you recall a time when a hasty decision led to an unexpected consequence, like in this story?
  4. What does this story teach us about responsibility and the consequences of our actions?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our daily lives to make more thoughtful decisions?

Fable Quotes

Responsibility is owning up to our actions and their consequences, even when silence cannot hide the truth.
Forgiveness allows wounds to heal, for in its embrace, mistakes transform into lessons of growth.
Empathy bridges understanding, revealing the silent tales hidden within the cracks of shattered horns.
About

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.