Aesop
|
Greece

The Lion and The Dolphin

The Lion and Dolphin promise to help each other, but when the Lion is attacked, the Dolphin's inability to leave the sea renders their friendship futile.
Adaptability
Friendship
Acceptance
Aesop's Fables - The Lion and The Dolphin
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a place where land meets the sea, there lived a mighty Lion and a friendly Dolphin. They became the best of friends, promising to help each other in times of need.

One sunny day, a pack of Hyenas approached the Lion's territory. They were much stronger and fiercer, ready for a fight. The Lion, though brave, knew he was outnumbered. He roared out loud, hoping his friend Dolphin would hear and come to his aid.

Far away in the ocean, the Dolphin heard the Lion's roar. He wanted to help his friend, but the dry land was not his home, and he could not survive outside of the sea. The Dolphin felt helpless, swimming anxiously near the shoreline.

Meanwhile, the Lion fought bravely, but the Hyenas were too many. They left him bruised and battered. As the dust settled, the Lion limped back, nursing his wounds.

That day, the Lion realized that even the best of friendships couldn't overcome the laws of nature.

Once upon a time, where the sandy beach gave high-fives to the ocean waves, there lived a Lion who thought he was the coolest cat around, and a Dolphin who could do backflips like a circus star. "Hey, buddy," said the Lion, "promise you'll help me if I ever get into a pickle, okay?"

"Sure thing, my mane man!" splashed the Dolphin. "We're a team, like cookies and milk!"

They would have done a fist-bump, you know, if dolphins had fists. Or if lions liked to swim. But hey, they were friends, and that was that.

One really, really sunny day—so bright even the sun had to wear sunglasses—a group of Hyenas came strutting into Lion's territory.

"Hey there," said the Lion, trying to sound like the coolest guy at a party. "What brings you to my neck of the woods? Looking for autographs?"

"We're here for some fun, alright," snarled the head Hyena, "The kind where we make you wish you'd stayed in bed."

Lion knew he was in trouble. He roared as loud as a rocket launch, hoping his friend Dolphin would hear it and come to help.

Far away in the ocean, Dolphin did hear it. "Oh no! My buddy Lion's in trouble!" But then he remembered, "Wait, I can't walk on land; I'm a fish out of water there!" And he swam near the shore, worrying and splashing, but feeling pretty stuck.

Back in Lionville, our Lion was doing his best to keep things light. "Come on, is that all you got? My little cousin plays tougher games than this!"

But despite his jokes and courage, there were just too many Hyenas. They left him looking like he'd been through a pillow fight, where the pillows were made of rocks.

As the dust settled, Lion limped back to his turf. And it made him think—sometimes, even if you have the best friends in the world, there are things that just can't be changed. Like, you can't ask a fish to climb a tree, or a bird to swim, right?

And as the sun said "goodnight," Lion knew this was a day he'd remember. Not every problem can be solved with a joke or even with the best of friends, but hey, that's life!

Beside the waves where waters gleam,
Lived Lion bold and Dolphin's dream.
Together strong, together free,
A bond unbreakable there seemed to be.

One day when sun was shining bright,
Hyenas came, prepared to fight.
Though Lion’s heart was bold and true,
Against their numbers, what could he do?

His roaring cry, a call so deep,
Was hoped to rouse the Dolphin from his leap.
But Dolphin, though he heard the call,
On sandy shores could not at all.

Twisting, turning in the sea,
Dolphin wished on land he'd be.
But nature’s rules can't bend or break,
Some help he simply couldn’t make.

In the tough fight, with all his might,
The Lion faced a challenging sight.
And when the battle clouds did part,
He bore the scars, a wounded heart.

In bonds of friendship, they did share,
A love so true, beyond compare.
Yet nature's laws, both strict and clear,
Declared some bounds they must adhere.

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Lion called for the Dolphin when the Hyenas came to his territory?
  2. How did the Dolphin feel when he heard the Lion's roar but couldn't help him on the land?
  3. Can you recall a time when you really wanted to help a friend but couldn't, and how did that make you feel?
  4. What lesson do you think the Lion learned from his experience with the Hyenas and his friend, the Dolphin?
  5. How might this story help us understand the importance and limitations of friendship in our own lives?

Fable Quotes

In the face of nature's boundaries, adaptability becomes the key to navigating the challenges of life.
True friendship isn't just about making promises but understanding boundaries.
Acceptance isn't about changing others to fit us, but understanding where they come from.
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