Section 240
The Wolf and his Shadow explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Wolf, who was roaming about on the plain when the sun was getting low in the sky, was much impressed by the size of his shadow, and said to himself, "I had no idea I was so big. Fancy my being afraid of a lion! Why, I, not he, ought to be King of the beasts"; and, heedless o...
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Public-domain original
A Wolf, who was roaming about on the plain when the sun was getting
low in the sky, was much impressed by the size of his shadow, and said
to himself, "I had no idea I was so big. Fancy my being afraid of a
lion! Why, I, not he, ought to be King of the beasts"; and, heedless
of danger, he strutted about as if there could be no doubt at all
about it. Just then a lion sprang upon him and began to devour him.
"Alas," he cried, "had I not lost sight of the facts, I shouldn't have
been ruined by my fancies."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A short fable about The Wolf and his Shadow shows how choices, assumptions, or desires can lead to consequences.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns a common human habit into a short lesson about judgment and consequences.
Characters in this scene
- The Wolf: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- his Shadow: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
In simple terms, The Wolf and his Shadow face a small situation that reveals a larger lesson about behavior and consequences.