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The Wise Goat and the Wolf

A wise goat outsmarts cunning wolves who try to trick her, eventually scaring them away with the threat of powerful friends.
Wisdom
Deception
Survival
Featured in Fable Book
Jataka Tales - The Wise Goat and the Wolf
Audio available for B1 version

In a far-off land, nestled on a hillside, lived a herd of wild goats. Not far away, a cunning wolf and his wife made their home. They loved the taste of goat meat and often feasted on the unsuspecting goats. But there was one wise goat who always outwitted them, no matter how many traps they laid.

One day, the wolf devised a plan. “Pretend I'm no more and tell the wise goat that you need help. She'll feel sorry for you and when she comes near, I'll catch her,” he said to his wife.

So the she-wolf visited the wise goat and shared her sorrowful story. The wise goat, however, was cautious. “You have hurt my kin and friends. I fear for my safety around you,” she said. “Fear not! I'm in mourning and won't harm any creature for a week,” the wolf replied. Reluctantly, the wise goat agreed to accompany her, but she insisted the wolf walked ahead.

The wolf, who had been pretending to be no more, grew impatient and hungry. He lifted his head to see if his wife was returning with the goat. Spotting the movement, the wise goat bolted back to her cave.

“Why did you raise your head? We almost had her,” the she-wolf scolded. The wolf couldn't answer. “I'll try once more to bring her to our home,” the wolf said.

The she-wolf went to the wise goat's cave and spun a new tale. “Your arrival brought my husband back to life. He's now healthy. Let's be friends and enjoy our time together,” she said.

But the wise goat knew better. “I'm glad to hear the good news. Let's share it with everyone. I'll bring some of my friends to your home. We can all enjoy together,” she said.

“Who are your friends?” the wolf asked, unaware of who she was about to invite. “I'll bring two dogs, and a big bulldog. They will bring their friends too,” said the wise goat.

Hearing this, the wolf was terrified. She ran back to her cave and told her husband about the goat's ferocious friends. The wolf couple, scared of meeting such formidable foes, ran away, never to return. The wise goat lived peacefully, having outsmarted the cunning wolves.

In a land far away, on a hillside, lived a group of wild goats. Not too far from them, a wolf and his wife had their home. They liked to eat goat meat and often tricked the goats to catch them. But there was one smart goat who always escaped their traps.

One day, the wolf had an idea. "Pretend that I'm gone and ask the wise goat for help. She will feel sorry for you, and when she comes close, I will catch her," he said to his wife.

The she-wolf went to the wise goat and told a sad story. The wise goat listened but was careful. "You have hurt my friends and family. I don’t trust you," she said. "Don’t worry! I'm sad and won’t hurt anyone for a whole week," replied the she-wolf. The wise goat agreed to follow her but asked the wolf to walk ahead.

The wolf, who was hiding and pretending to be gone, became hungry and impatient. He lifted his head to see if his wife was coming back with the goat. When the wise goat saw him move, she quickly ran back to her cave.

"Why did you move? We almost caught her!" the she-wolf said angrily. The wolf didn't know what to say. "Let me try again," he said.

The she-wolf returned to the wise goat and told her a new story. "When you came, my husband came back to life. He is healthy again. Let’s be friends and spend time together," she said.

But the wise goat was clever. "That’s good news! Let’s tell everyone. I will bring some of my friends to visit your home. We can all be together," she said.

"Who are your friends?" the she-wolf asked, not knowing who the goat would bring. "I’ll bring two dogs and a big bulldog. They will bring their friends too," said the wise goat.

When the wolf heard this, she was very scared. She ran back to her cave and told her husband about the goat’s strong friends. The wolf and his wife were so afraid that they ran away and never came back. The wise goat lived happily, having outsmarted the wolves once again.

A group of goats lives on a hill. A wolf and his wife live near them. The wolf likes to eat goat meat. He tries to catch the goats, but one goat is very smart. The wolf cannot catch this goat.

One day, the wolf has an idea. He tells his wife, "I will hide. You ask the goat for help. She will feel sorry for you, and when she comes close, I will catch her."

The wolf's wife goes to the goat. She tells the goat a sad story. The goat listens but is careful. The goat says, "I do not trust you. You hurt my friends."

The wolf's wife says, "I am sad. I will not hurt anyone for a week."

The goat agrees to follow her but asks her to walk in front. The wolf is hiding but feels hungry. He moves his head to see the goat.

The goat sees the wolf move and runs away. The wolf’s wife is angry. "Why did you move? We almost caught her!" she says.

The wolf says, "Let me try again."

The wolf's wife goes back to the goat. She tells a new story. "When you came, my husband got better. He is strong again. Let’s be friends."

The goat is smart. The goat says, "That is good! I will bring my friends to your house. We can all play together."

The wolf’s wife asks, "Who are your friends?"

The goat says, "I will bring two big dogs and a bulldog. They will bring more friends."

The wolf's wife is scared. She runs home and tells the wolf. They are so scared that they run away and never come back.

The smart goat is safe and happy.

In a land far away, on a hillside, lived a group of wild goats. Not too far from them, a wolf and his wife had their home. They liked to eat goat meat and often tricked the goats to catch them. But there was one smart goat who always escaped their traps.

One day, the wolf had an idea. "Pretend that I'm gone and ask the wise goat for help. She will feel sorry for you, and when she comes close, I will catch her," he said to his wife.

The she-wolf went to the wise goat and told a sad story. The wise goat listened but was careful. "You have hurt my friends and family. I don’t trust you," she said. "Don’t worry! I'm sad and won’t hurt anyone for a whole week," replied the she-wolf. The wise goat agreed to follow her but asked the wolf to walk ahead.

The wolf, who was hiding and pretending to be gone, became hungry and impatient. He lifted his head to see if his wife was coming back with the goat. When the wise goat saw him move, she quickly ran back to her cave.

"Why did you move? We almost caught her!" the she-wolf said angrily. The wolf didn't know what to say. "Let me try again," he said.

The she-wolf returned to the wise goat and told her a new story. "When you came, my husband came back to life. He is healthy again. Let’s be friends and spend time together," she said.

But the wise goat was clever. "That’s good news! Let’s tell everyone. I will bring some of my friends to visit your home. We can all be together," she said.

"Who are your friends?" the she-wolf asked, not knowing who the goat would bring. "I’ll bring two dogs and a big bulldog. They will bring their friends too," said the wise goat.

When the wolf heard this, she was very scared. She ran back to her cave and told her husband about the goat’s strong friends. The wolf and his wife were so afraid that they ran away and never came back. The wise goat lived happily, having outsmarted the wolves once again.

In a corner of the world so tucked away even fairy godmothers couldn’t find it on their magic GPS, there was this hillside. Yeah, like, THE hillside—Glastonbury for goats! These goats were living the dream, chomping on the juiciest grass, and sharing the latest gossip. You get the vibe.

But hold your goats! There was a wolf couple living nearby who thought of these goats as a walking buffet. "Mmm, goats! Like takeaway, but you have to catch it yourself," the wolf said to his wife.

Ah, but there was one goat that was a bit too brainy for these scheming wolves, dodging their traps like they were playground games. This goat could've been a detective if she had opposable thumbs, seriously.

One day, the wolf was like, "Alright, let’s switch it up. You know, new season, new tricks! Pretend I’ve kicked the bucket, vanished, poof! Then you put on your best sad face and go ask Miss Clever Clogs for help. When she gets close—SNACK TIME!"

So, the she-wolf turned on the waterworks, went up to our brainy goat and was like, "Woe is me, I'm alone in the world now. Wanna help a gal out?"

The goat stared and said, "Hmmm, you want ME to help YOU? Have you tried not eating goats for a change?”

"Promise, no munching on goats for a week. Pinky swear," said the she-wolf.

"Alright, but you're leading the way, and no funny business!" said the goat.

Back in their hideout, the wolf couldn’t contain his excitement. He peeked his head out, checking for his dinner date. But the brainy goat caught on. "Oh, mate! You blew it!"

The wolf's face was a mix of guilt and hunger. "I got antsy; can we have a do-over?"

She-wolf tried one more time. "My hubby's back! Must be your good vibes. Let’s celebrate!"

The goat chuckled, "Awesome! How about we make it a party? My friends will flip when they hear about this!"

Curious and greedy, the she-wolf asked, "Who are you bringing?"

"A couple of big dogs! And they're the life of any party!" said the goat.

Hearing this, the wolves had an "Oh, snap!" moment. They packed their bags faster than you can say "fairy tale" and hit the road.

As for the brainy goat, she just winked at her dog pals and went back to her goat squad. "Well, that takes care of that, doesn’t it? Anyone up for a game of ‘King of the Hill?’"

And so, the hillside was forever a wolf-free zone, and everyone got to live happily and wisely ever after.

On a hillside, wild goats did play,
While wolves nearby sought them as prey.
But among the goats, there was one so sly,
She'd dodge the wolves, every time they'd try.

"Let's trick her," the wolf whispered one day,
"Pretend I'm gone, she'll come our way."
So the she-wolf went, with tears in her eye,
Saying, "Oh wise goat, please don't be shy."

But the wise goat paused, her trust quite thin,
"You've harmed my friends, where do I begin?"
"Fear not," said the she-wolf, her voice so sleek,
"I won't harm a soul, for at least a week."

But as they walked, a movement so slight,
Gave the wise goat quite the fright.
She saw the wolf, his disguise a ruse,
And back to her cave, she quickly did cruise.

The wolves tried again, a new story to spin,
Of health and happiness, and a life free of sin.
But the wise goat laughed, a plan in her mind,
"I've friends to invite, of a special kind."

"Dogs and bulldogs, they love to play,
With their mighty bark, they'll keep wolves at bay."
The she-wolf's heart raced, her fear took flight,
To their dark cave, the wolves ran that night.

And from that day on, with her wit so fine,
The wise goat kept her herd in line.
For wisdom and wit, can keep danger at bay,
And that's how the goats lived, day by day.

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Word Finder

  1. Hillside

    A sloping area of land beside a hill.

  2. Tricked

    Made someone believe something that isn't true.

  3. Pretend

    Act as if something is true when it's not.

  4. Wise

    Smart from experience and good at making decisions.

  5. Careful

    Paying attention to avoid mistakes or danger.

  6. Impatient

    Not able to wait calmly for something.

  7. Returned

    Came back to a place after being away.

  8. Clever

    Quick to understand or solve problems.

  9. Afraid

    Feeling fear or being scared of something.

  10. Outsmarted

    Defeated someone by being more intelligent.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why did the wolf and his wife want to catch the wise goat?
  2. What plan did the wolf suggest to his wife to trick the wise goat?
  3. How did the wise goat react when the she-wolf first asked for help?
  4. Why did the wise goat ask the wolf to walk ahead when they were going to the cave?
  5. What did the wise goat say she would bring to visit the she-wolf's home, and how did this affect the wolves?
Word Finder
  1. Hill

    A place higher than the flat ground.

  2. Catch

    To grab something and not let go.

  3. Idea

    A new plan or way to do something.

  4. Careful

    Paying close attention to avoid problems.

  5. Trust

    To believe someone will not hurt you.

  6. Hurt

    To cause pain or make someone feel bad.

  7. Follow

    To go after or behind someone or something.

  8. Mad

    Feeling angry or upset with someone.

  9. Strong

    Having a lot of power in your body.

  10. Scared

    Feeling afraid or worried about something bad happening.

  1. Hillside

    A sloping area of land beside a hill.

  2. Tricked

    Made someone believe something that isn't true.

  3. Pretend

    Act as if something is true when it's not.

  4. Wise

    Smart from experience and good at making decisions.

  5. Careful

    Paying attention to avoid mistakes or danger.

  6. Impatient

    Not able to wait calmly for something.

  7. Returned

    Came back to a place after being away.

  8. Clever

    Quick to understand or solve problems.

  9. Afraid

    Feeling fear or being scared of something.

  10. Outsmarted

    Defeated someone by being more intelligent.

Understanding Questions
  1. What does the wolf like to eat?

    1. Grass
    2. Goat meat
    3. Fruits
    4. Fish
  2. Why does the wolf's wife tell a sad story to the goat?

    1. To make the goat feel sorry
    2. To ask for food
    3. To invite the goat to play
    4. To tell a joke
  3. What does the goat say when the wolf’s wife tells a sad story?

    1. "I will help you."
    2. "I do not trust you."
    3. "I am sorry."
    4. "Let's be friends."
  4. Why does the goat ask the wolf's wife to walk in front?

    1. To be polite
    2. To show the way
    3. To stay safe
    4. To help her walk
  5. Who does the goat say will come with her to the wolf’s house?

    1. Other goats
    2. Two big dogs and a bulldog
    3. Three small cats
    4. A lion and a tiger
  1. Why did the wolf and his wife want to catch the wise goat?
  2. What plan did the wolf suggest to his wife to trick the wise goat?
  3. How did the wise goat react when the she-wolf first asked for help?
  4. Why did the wise goat ask the wolf to walk ahead when they were going to the cave?
  5. What did the wise goat say she would bring to visit the she-wolf's home, and how did this affect the wolves?
  1. What was the wolf's initial plan to capture the wise goat, and how did he involve his wife in this scheme?
  2. How did the wise goat respond when the she-wolf first approached her, and why did she remain cautious?
  3. What caused the wise goat to realize that the wolves were trying to deceive her during their first attempt?
  4. How did the wise goat cleverly outwit the she-wolf in the second encounter by mentioning her 'friends'?
  5. Why did the wolf couple decide to flee after hearing about the wise goat’s 'friends,' and what does this suggest about the wolves' characters?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the Wise Goat was cautious around the she-wolf, even when she asked for help?
  2. How did the Wise Goat's clever actions save her from the wolf's trap?
  3. Can you think of a time when you or someone else had to be smart or cautious to stay safe?
  4. What does this story teach us about the importance of using wisdom and thinking before trusting someone?
  5. How can we use the lessons from this story in our own lives to ensure we make good decisions about who we trust?
Fable Quotes
Wisdom is the shield that protects us from the cunning of others.
The dance of deception is complicated, but wisdom knows the steps.
Survival isn't always about strength, sometimes it's about being clever.
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