Aesop
|
Greece

The Lion and The Bull

Cunning lion tricks bull with a promise of a tasty sheep, but the bull senses a trap and escapes.
Deception
Courage
Wisdom
Featured in Fable Book
Aesop's Fables - The Lion and The Bull
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a vast jungle, a cunning Lion lived. He thought of a plan to lure a strong Bull into his home. "Join me," he said with a sly smile, "I have a tasty sheep we can share." Tempted, the Bull agreed and followed the Lion.

As they neared the Lion's home, the Bull noticed something odd. There were sharp teeth-like tools scattered around, but no sight of a sheep anywhere. "Where's the sheep?" he asked, eyeing the Lion warily.

"Oh, it's just around the corner," the Lion replied, trying to hide his disappointment.

But the Bull was not fooled. Sensing a trap, he decided to leave. "I'll come back some other time," he said, turning around and heading back to the safety of the grasslands. And so, the Lion's cunning plan failed, and the wise Bull lived to graze another day.

Once upon a time, in a big jungle, there lived a clever Lion. He had an idea to trick a strong Bull into coming to his home. "Come with me," the Lion said with a sly smile, "I have a delicious sheep we can eat together." The Bull, feeling tempted, agreed and followed the Lion.

As they got closer to the Lion's home, the Bull noticed something strange. There were sharp tools that looked like teeth scattered around, but there was no sheep in sight. "Where is the sheep?" the Bull asked, looking at the Lion with suspicion.

"Oh, it's just around the corner," the Lion answered, trying to stay calm.

But the Bull was not fooled. Realizing it was a trap, he decided to leave. "I'll come back another time," he said, turning around and walking back to the safety of the grasslands. And so, the Lion's clever plan failed, and the wise Bull lived to eat grass another day.

There is a Lion. The Lion is hungry. The Lion sees a Bull in the forest. The Lion wants to eat the Bull, but he cannot catch him. So, the Lion makes a plan.

The Lion says, "Come with me. I have food for us." The Bull follows the Lion.

They walk together. The Bull looks around. He sees many sharp things on the ground. The Bull asks, "Where is the food?"

The Lion says, "It is near. Come closer."

The Bull feels something is wrong. He stops and thinks, "This is a trap."

The Bull says, "I need to go now." The Bull turns and walks away. The Lion’s plan does not work, and the Bull is safe.

Once upon a time, in a big jungle, there lived a clever Lion. He had an idea to trick a strong Bull into coming to his home. "Come with me," the Lion said with a sly smile, "I have a delicious sheep we can eat together." The Bull, feeling tempted, agreed and followed the Lion.

As they got closer to the Lion's home, the Bull noticed something strange. There were sharp tools that looked like teeth scattered around, but there was no sheep in sight. "Where is the sheep?" the Bull asked, looking at the Lion with suspicion.

"Oh, it's just around the corner," the Lion answered, trying to stay calm.

But the Bull was not fooled. Realizing it was a trap, he decided to leave. "I'll come back another time," he said, turning around and walking back to the safety of the grasslands. And so, the Lion's clever plan failed, and the wise Bull lived to eat grass another day.

Once upon a time, deep in the jungle—like, the ultimate playground jungle—a Lion was hanging out, thinking of funny pranks. "Hmm," he thought, "I wonder if I can get someone to share a yummy sheep meal with me, even though I don't actually have one!"

"Hey buddy!" the Lion yelled over to a Bull, who was busy lifting pretend weights made of grass. "Wanna come over? I’ve got a really yummy sheep we can eat!"

The Bull thought about it. "A yummy sheep, you say? Alright, let's do this!" And off they went, walking toward the Lion's house.

As they got close, the Bull started to notice some strange things—like a bunch of sharp, pointy objects that looked like giant teeth. "Um, where's the sheep?" he asked. "I don't see it anywhere!"

The Lion, trying not to look sad that his plan wasn't working, said, "Oh, the sheep's just getting ready. It'll be out in a minute!"

But the Bull was too smart for that. "You know what," he said, "I just remembered, I have to go home and water my, um, grass. Maybe some other time!"

The Lion sighed. "Alright, alright," he said, watching the Bull leave.

So, the Bull turned around, flexing his pretend grass weights as he strutted back to his own turf. "Dodged that one," he thought, all smiles as he returned to the safety of his meadow.

As for the Lion? Well, his plan fizzled out like a balloon with a slow leak. "Guess I'll have to rethink the menu," he muttered.

And so, the Bull kept on munching on his grass, fitter and wiser than ever. The Lion? He went back to the drawing board, thinking maybe next time he'd try stand-up comedy instead of pranks. In a jungle where everyone's a character, life moved on—one laugh, one lesson, one day at a time.

Sly Lion with a scheme so grand,
Invited Bull to his jungle land.
"A tasty sheep we'll share," said he,
While hiding plans Bull couldn't see.

As Bull approached this shady place,
Suspicion dawned upon his face.
Sharp tools lay round, no sheep in sight,
Something about this wasn't right.

"Just round the corner," Lion lied,
His grin now impossible to hide.
But Bull sensed danger in the air,
And chose that moment to take care.

"I'll visit later," Bull declared,
And back to grasslands safely fared.
Lion's plot was foiled, it's true,
And wise Bull grazed 'neath skies so blue.

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Word Finder

  1. Clever

    Smart and good at thinking of tricks.

  2. Trick

    A plan to deceive or mislead someone.

  3. Tempted

    Wanting to do something you shouldn't.

  4. Sly

    Secretive and dishonest in a sneaky way.

  5. Sharp

    Having a point that can cut or pierce.

  6. Scattered

    Spread out or thrown about in different places.

  7. Suspicion

    Feeling that something is wrong or not true.

  8. Calm

    Not upset or worried; peaceful and relaxed.

  9. Fool

    To trick someone into believing something untrue.

  10. Wise

    Having good judgment and making smart decisions.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why did the Lion invite the Bull to his home?
  2. What did the Lion promise the Bull when he invited him?
  3. How did the Bull realize something was wrong as they approached the Lion's home?
  4. What did the Bull do when he noticed there was no sheep?
  5. How did the Bull avoid being tricked by the Lion?
Word Finder
  1. Hungry

    Wanting to eat food now.

  2. Catch

    To get or hold something quickly.

  3. Plan

    An idea about what to do next.

  4. Sharp

    Having a point that can hurt.

  5. Ground

    The earth or floor under us.

  6. Trap

    A thing used to catch or trick.

  7. Closer

    Moving near or not far away.

  8. Feels

    Sensing something inside or outside.

  9. Turns

    Moves around to face another way.

  10. Safe

    Not in danger; no harm will happen.

  1. Clever

    Smart and good at thinking of tricks.

  2. Trick

    A plan to deceive or mislead someone.

  3. Tempted

    Wanting to do something you shouldn't.

  4. Sly

    Secretive and dishonest in a sneaky way.

  5. Sharp

    Having a point that can cut or pierce.

  6. Scattered

    Spread out or thrown about in different places.

  7. Suspicion

    Feeling that something is wrong or not true.

  8. Calm

    Not upset or worried; peaceful and relaxed.

  9. Fool

    To trick someone into believing something untrue.

  10. Wise

    Having good judgment and making smart decisions.

Understanding Questions
  1. What does the Lion want to do to the Bull?

    1. Play with him
    2. Catch and eat him
    3. Help him
    4. Run away from him
  2. Why does the Bull follow the Lion?

    1. He thinks the Lion has food.
    2. He wants to go home.
    3. He likes the Lion.
    4. He is lost.
  3. What does the Bull see on the ground?

    1. Flowers
    2. Water
    3. Sharp things
    4. Leaves
  4. Why does the Bull stop?

    1. He is tired.
    2. He thinks it is a trap.
    3. He found food.
    4. The Lion tells him to stop.
  5. What happens at the end of the story?

    1. The Bull stays with the Lion.
    2. The Bull walks away and is safe.
    3. The Lion catches the Bull.
    4. The Bull falls into a trap.
  1. Why did the Lion invite the Bull to his home?
  2. What did the Lion promise the Bull when he invited him?
  3. How did the Bull realize something was wrong as they approached the Lion's home?
  4. What did the Bull do when he noticed there was no sheep?
  5. How did the Bull avoid being tricked by the Lion?
  1. What strategy did the Lion use to convince the Bull to enter his home?
  2. Why did the Bull become suspicious as they approached the Lion's home?
  3. How did the Lion react when the Bull asked about the sheep?
  4. What decision did the Bull make when he sensed the Lion's trap?
  5. What was the outcome of the Lion's plan, and how did the Bull avoid danger?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the Lion invited the Bull to his home?
  2. How did the Bull figure out that the Lion was trying to trick him?
  3. Can you remember a time when you felt something was not right, like the Bull did, and what did you do?
  4. What does this story teach us about being observant and listening to our instincts?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this fable in our own lives when we encounter situations that don't seem right?
Fable Quotes
A smile can hide a thousand lies, but keen eyes see through the deceit.
Courage is found in questioning temptation and trusting one's instincts, even in the face of deceptive allure.
Wisdom is recognizing the teeth of deception, and choosing to walk away towards a safer path.
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