Section 134
The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Lion was lying asleep at the mouth of his den when a Mouse ran over his back and tickled him so that he woke up with a start and began looking about everywhere to see what it was that had disturbed him. A Fox, who was looking on, thought he would have a joke at the expense...
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Public-domain original
A Lion was lying asleep at the mouth of his den when a Mouse ran over
his back and tickled him so that he woke up with a start and began
looking about everywhere to see what it was that had disturbed him. A
Fox, who was looking on, thought he would have a joke at the expense
of the Lion; so he said, "Well, this is the first time I've seen a
Lion afraid of a Mouse." "Afraid of a Mouse?" said the Lion testily:
"not I! It's his bad manners I can't stand."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A fox mocks a lion for fearing a mouse, but the lion says surprise caused the fear.
Why this scene matters
This fable separates true fear from sudden shock.
Characters in this scene
- Lion: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Mouse: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Fox: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
A mouse runs over a sleeping lion and startles him. The fox laughs, but the lion explains he was surprised, not truly afraid.