The Old Hound by Aesop for ESL students with a podcast, vocabulary in real context, moral of the short story, and discussion questions in the public domain obtained from Gutenberg Project.
Video of the Old Hound
The Old Hound
A hound who had served his master well for years, and had run down many a quarry in his time, began to lose his strength and speed owing to age.
One day, when out hunting, his master started a powerful wild boar and set the hound at him. The latter seized the beast by the ear, but his teeth were gone and he could not retain his hold; so the boar escaped.
His master began to scold him severely, but the hound interrupted him with these words: “My will is as strong as ever, master, but my body is old and feeble. You ought to honor me for what I have been instead of abusing me for what I am.”
The Proverbs from the Short Story
Respect your elders.
This emphasizes the importance of honoring those who have contributed in the past, even if they are no longer as capable.
A good horse never stumbles but once.
This suggests that even the best and most reliable individuals may face difficulties due to age or circumstance, but their past excellence should not be forgotten.
Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
This reflects the idea that those who have served well in their time should not be dismissed but remembered with respect.
All three proverbs highlight the value of experience, loyalty, and the respect due to those who have worked hard in the past.
English Vocabulary in Real Context
- Hound: A type of dog that is used for hunting
- Served: Worked for or helped someone
- Master: A person who owns or controls something, like a pet or a worker
- Quarry: An animal that is hunted
- Strength: The power to do something, especially physically
- Seized: Grabbed or held onto something tightly
- Retain: To keep or hold something
- Scold: To speak angrily to someone because they did something wrong
- Feeble: Weak or lacking strength
- Abusing: Treating someone or something badly
Moral of the Short Story
The moral of the story is that loyalty and past service should be respected, even when age diminishes one’s abilities. Just as the old hound had once been a fierce and capable hunter, people too deserve recognition for their past contributions rather than criticism for the effects of time. True gratitude acknowledges dedication and effort, not just present capability.
Discussion Questions
- Why was the hound unable to hold onto the wild boar?
- How did the master react when the hound failed to catch the boar?
- What lesson does the hound try to teach his master at the end of the story?
