The Fox and the Lion by Aesop for English students with a video, vocabulary practice in real context, and discussion questions to practice the 4 language skills naturally
The Fox and the Lion is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Fox and the Lion
The Fox and the Lion
A fox who had never seen a lion one day met one, and was so terrified at the sight of him that he was ready to die with fear.
After a time, he met him again, and was still rather frightened, but not nearly so much as he had been when he met the lion first.
But when he saw him for the third time, he was so far from being afraid that he went up to him and began to talk to him as if he had known the lion all his life.
English proverbs from the short story
Here are a few English proverbs that are thematically related to the fear and reassurance in “The Fox and the Lion”:
This proverb emphasizes how fear can hinder our thoughts and actions.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
This proverb suggests that appearances can be deceiving, just as the fox initially feared the lion based on his size and reputation.
Vocabulary in real context
- terrified: frightened, horrified
- sight: scene, view
- afraid: scared, fearful
Moral of the short story
The moral of Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Lion” is that fear can be a powerful motivator, but it’s often unfounded.
The fable tells the story of a fox who, upon seeing a lion, is stricken with fear. The lion, feeling pity for the fox’s trembling, asks why he is so afraid. The fox, still trembling, replies that he was afraid the lion might eat him. The lion laughs and assures the fox that he has no intention of harming him. The fox, realizing his fear was unwarranted, is relieved and promises to never be afraid of the lion again.
This story teaches us that fear can be a powerful emotion that can paralyze us. However, it’s important to remember that fear is often irrational and can lead us to make poor decisions. By confronting our fears and understanding that they are often unfounded, we can free ourselves from their grip and live more confidently and fulfilling lives.
