Aesop
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Greece

The Young Goat and the Wolf as Musician

A young goat cleverly saves itself from a hungry wolf by asking the wolf to play music, attracting hounds to chase the wolf away.
Courage
Resourcefulness
Survival
Aesop's Fables - The Young Goat and the Wolf as Musician
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in the deep woods, there lived a young goat. One day, while the goat was happily nibbling on fresh, green leaves away from its herd, a hungry wolf appeared from behind the thick bushes. The goat was frightened as it knew its life was in danger.

Thinking quickly, the goat said to the wolf, "Before you eat me, Mr. Wolf, could you play a tune on your flute? I've always wanted to dance to a melody."

The wolf, though surprised, was quite pleased with this idea. "What a fine entertainment before my meal," he thought. He took out his flute and began to play.

As the wolf played, the goat started to prance and dance. The merry tune floated through the forest, reaching the ears of some nearby hounds. Intrigued, they followed the sound of the music until they found its source.

As soon as the hounds saw the wolf, they sprang into action, barking loudly and chasing the wolf away. The wolf ran for his life, leaving the goat unharmed.

The clever goat, with a thankful heart, rejoined its herd, happy and safe. And so, despite the danger, the goat never strayed from its purpose and saved itself from the hungry wolf.

Once upon a time in a forest so deep it had its own secret handshake, a young goat was munching on some super tasty, green leaves. Oh, this wasn't just any meal, this was a leaf-feast!

Suddenly, a wolf popped out from behind some really thick bushes, drooling like he'd just seen a cake. The goat's eyes went wide. "Uh-oh! I'm in trouble, aren't I? I'm today's special on the 'Yummy Goat Menu.'"

"You got it," the wolf said, licking his lips. "I'm super hungry!"

Thinking faster than a speedy racecar, the goat said, "Hold on, Mr. Musical Wolf! Before you make a meal out of me, how about playing a song on your flute? My hooves are ready to dance!"

The wolf looked puzzled but also kinda excited. "Music before dinner? Wow, what a cool idea! Get ready for some wolfie tunes!"

Out came the wolf's flute—I have no clue where he was keeping it, let's not worry about that—and he started playing a song so happy, even the rocks would want to dance.

True to his word, the goat started dancing. Hopping up and down, spinning in circles, even moonwalking!

Meanwhile, the tune caught the ears of a bunch of dogs who were just hanging out nearby. "Did you hear that? Either someone's having a party or we're in a musical!" said one dog. Interested, they followed the sound like it was a trail of dog treats.

When they arrived and saw the wolf, their faces went from "What's going on?" to "Let's get him!" faster than you can say "sit."

Barking and yelping as if they'd just heard the dinner bell, they chased the wolf away, who ran so fast he practically left skid marks!

The goat, now safe and sound, did one last happy dance. "Well, that got crazy real quick! But look at me, all in one piece!"

And with that, the goat danced his way back to the herd, both happy and a little smarter, knowing that quick thinking can save the day.

Deep within the woods so great,
A young goat found its fate.
Nibbling leaves, so green and neat,
When a wolf appeared, its heart did beat.

"Oh, Mr. Wolf, a request I make,
Before your meal you decide to take.
Play a tune, on your flute so fine,
And let me dance, just one last time."

The wolf grinned, his fangs did show,
"A final dance? Well, alright, here we go."
He played his flute, a tune so free,
And the goat danced with utmost glee.

The music floated, high and loud,
Attracting the attention of a hound crowd.
Intrigued by the song, closer they came,
And seeing the wolf, they set the game.

Barking fiercely, the hounds did chase,
The wolf ran away, in a hurried pace.
Leaving behind the goat, all safe and sound,
Who with gratitude, its herd did bound.

For with quick wit, and a dance so fine,
The goat had saved its life, in the nick of time.

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you think the young goat felt when it saw the wolf, and why did it ask the wolf to play a tune on his flute?
  2. What do you think about the wolf's decision to play the flute before eating the goat?
  3. Can you remember a time when quick thinking helped you or someone else avoid a difficult situation?
  4. What does this story teach us about using our cleverness in dangerous situations?
  5. How can we use the lessons from this story in our daily life to deal with unexpected problems?

Fable Quotes

Fear faced with courage leads to unexpected triumphs and the strength to save oneself.
Creativity and quick thinking are the keys to unlocking solutions in times of adversity.
Even in the face of danger, a clever mind ensures survival.
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