Aesop
|
Greece

The Wolf and The Lion

A cunning wolf steals a sheep, but a lion takes it away and points out the wolf's own theft, leaving the wolf empty-handed.
Responsibility
Justice
Consequences
Aesop's Fables - The Wolf and The Lion
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a vast forest, there lived a cunning Wolf. One day, he caught a fat sheep from a nearby farm. The Wolf was very pleased and started carrying the sheep off to enjoy his feast.

As he trotted along a path, out from the thickets emerged a mighty Lion. The Lion looked at the sheep in the Wolf's grasp and then at the Wolf. In one swift move, the Lion snatched the sheep away from the Wolf.

The Wolf stood in surprise, and then in anger. He growled at the Lion, "That sheep was mine! You stole it from me!"

The Lion looked at the Wolf, his eyes full of amusement. He said, "But didn't you steal it first? You took it from the farmer, didn't you?"

The Wolf was taken aback. He couldn't argue against the Lion's words. He had been caught in his own trickery. So, the Lion walked away with the sheep, leaving the Wolf alone in the forest.

Once upon a time, in a really, really big forest—like, so big you'd need a map and a snack to get through it—a smart Wolf lived. This Wolf had just snagged a big, fluffy sheep from a farm nearby. "Oh boy, oh boy, dinner time!" the Wolf giggled, trotting along with his woolly prize like he'd just won a big toy.

As the Wolf skipped down the forest path, singing "Sheepy, sheepy, yay, so sleepy," out jumped a huge Lion from behind some bushes. This Lion was strong and tough, like a superhero. "Hmm, what's cooking?" said the Lion, looking at the sheep, then at the Wolf.

Quick as a wink, the Lion grabbed the sheep away, like taking the last cookie from the jar.

The Wolf's eyes went super big. "Hey! That was my snack! No fair!"

The Lion chuckled and said, "No fair? Buddy, you took that sheep first, didn't you? From a farm?"

The Wolf looked down, wagging his tail a little. "Uhh, yeah. You got me."

The Lion laughed really hard. "Oh, this is too funny! It's like a chicken telling jokes!" Then, with a flip of his cool hair, he walked away, taking the sheep with him.

The Wolf stood there, thinking. "Well, gotta find a new plan, I guess. Or should I say, a new paw-an? Nah, forget it." Off he went, singing a silly song about missing out on dinner as he walked back into the big, big forest.

And so, the forest stayed a place where even a tricky Wolf learned that sometimes, you don't get to keep what you take.

Deep within the woods so vast,
A Wolf thought he'd have a blast.
With a fat sheep in his hold,
Dreams of dinner, oh so bold!

Along the path, as he did stride,
A mighty Lion did beside.
With a glance and with a leap,
From the Wolf, he took the sheep.

"But that's my prize!" Wolf did shout,
With a growl and with a pout.
The Lion laughed, "Now, don't you see?
From the farmer, first stolen by thee."

Wolf's eyes widened, filled with shock,
Realizing he'd been caught in a mock.
For in the Lion's clever tease,
Wolf's trickery did surely freeze.

Away with the sheep, Lion did roam,
Leaving Wolf in woods, to ponder alone.

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Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Wolf felt it was unfair for the Lion to take the sheep?
  2. How do you think the farmer would have felt if he knew the Wolf had taken his sheep?
  3. Can you think of a time when you saw someone doing something wrong, but then they were upset when the same thing happened to them?
  4. What does this story teach us about fairness and taking things that don't belong to us?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story to our actions and behavior?

Fable Quotes

Taking what's not yours leads to loss.
Justice sees through wrongs and rights them.
When we do wrong, we must face the consequences.
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