Aesop
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Greece

The Wolf Admiring his Shadow

A boastful Wolf, enamored by his grand shadow, fails to notice a lurking Lion and falls victim to his own vanity.
Pride
Boasting
Caution
Aesop's Fables - The Wolf Admiring his Shadow
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, a boastful Wolf lived in a vast forest. He was particularly fond of the evenings when the sun was setting, for his small noontime shadow would stretch and grow until it seemed quite grand. Believing he must be special to have such a majestic shadow, he reveled in its sight.

However, one evening while he was absorbed in his grand shadow, he failed to notice the faint sounds and movements in the tall grass nearby. Hidden there was a golden-furred Lion with razor-sharp claws, quietly observing the preoccupied Wolf.

Seeing the Wolf completely distracted by his own shadow, the Lion seized the chance. In a blink, he sprang from his hiding, taking the Wolf by surprise. The Wolf had no chance to escape or defend himself.

So, the vain Wolf, who had been so busy marveling at his own shadow, was caught off guard by the Lion. He had forgotten to be careful of the actual threats lurking in the forest while being consumed by the sight of his growing shadow.

Once upon a time in a massive, sprawling forest, there was this Wolf. This Wolf, let me tell you, was as full of himself as a balloon at a birthday party. Ah, he loved the evenings! Why, you ask? Because that's when his itty-bitty noontime shadow would stretch out longer than a piece of taffy.

The Wolf would look at his shadow and go, "Wow, if that isn't the most majestic thing ever, then I don't know what is!"

Meanwhile, nestled in the tall grass, there was this golden-furred Lion with claws sharper than a brand-new pencil. He watched the Wolf, who was clearly head-over-paws in love with his own shadow, and thought, "This guy is so focused on his shadow, he wouldn't even notice if the sky started dancing!"

And so, quicker than you can say "snack time," the Lion leapt up, surprising the Wolf who was too busy giving a speech to his own shadow.

The Wolf was like, "Whoa, wait a minute! What's the big idea? I was having a moment here!"

But the Lion, oh the Lion, he chuckled and said, "Sorry, no do-overs in this game. Maybe next time, don't be so busy admiring your own shadow that you forget to watch your back!"

And just like that, the Wolf, who had been acting like the star of the show, was caught completely off guard.

In a vast wood, a Wolf did stand,
With a stretching shadow, so tall and grand.
"I'm special," he thought, with a prideful glee,
Not seeing the Lion, near the tall tree.

Gold-fur gleaming, in the dimming light,
The Lion stayed hidden, out of Wolf's sight.
The Wolf danced around, lost in his play,
Oblivious to the danger, lurking his way.

The Lion watched, waiting for his time,
A moment to pounce, in rhythm and rhyme.
With shadows stretching, the Wolf was unaware,
Of the impending danger, in the cool evening air.

Suddenly, the Lion, quick as the breeze,
Caught the Wolf, who couldn’t flee with ease.
In the dance of shadows, and the fall of night,
One must stay alert, and keep senses alight.

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Wolf was so fascinated by his own shadow?
  2. What do you think the Wolf forgot to do while he was looking at his shadow?
  3. Can you recall a time when you were so focused on something that you didn't notice something else important?
  4. What lesson does this story teach us about paying attention to our surroundings?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our daily lives to be more attentive and careful?

Fable Quotes

Pride can blind us to the world around us, opening doors to unexpected dangers.
Boasting blinds the proud, leaving them vulnerable to the hidden perils they fail to see.
Always keep an eye out for danger, even when you feel at your grandest.
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