The Rat and The Elephant
A rat, pleased to frighten people, compares himself to an elephant and only then realizes he's less powerful.
Once there was a rat who was used to people being scared when they saw him, and he liked it.
One day, he saw a group of people looking at an elephant. The elephant had a king riding on its back. The rat felt ignored and thought, "Why do they like that elephant so much? It's just like me—it has four legs, two eyes, and a nose."
The king's cat heard the rat and said, "But you are not as big as the elephant. I couldn't even scare that elephant, but it could easily step on you."
The rat felt embarrassed and quickly ran away, understanding that he wasn't as strong as he thought.
Audio available for B1 version
Once there was a rat who was used to people being scared when they saw him, and he liked it.
One day, he saw a group of people looking at an elephant.
The elephant had a king riding on its back.
The rat felt ignored and thought, "Why do they like that elephant so much?
It's just like me—it has four legs, two eyes, and a nose."
The king's cat heard the rat and said, "But you are not as big as the elephant.
I couldn't even scare that elephant, but it could easily step on you."
The rat felt embarrassed and quickly ran away, understanding that he wasn't as strong as he thought.
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Word Finder
Scared
Feeling afraid or frightened of something or someone.Ignored
Not being noticed or paid attention to by others.Elephant
A large animal with a trunk and big ears.Riding
Sitting on and controlling an animal or vehicle.Embarrassed
Feeling ashamed or awkward because of something.Thought
An idea or opinion formed in the mind.Group
A number of people or things that are together.Strong
Having great physical power or ability.Quickly
Moving or doing something at a fast speed.Step
To lift and move your foot in a walking motion.
Understanding Questions
- What did the rat enjoy about people's reactions when they saw him?
- Who was riding on the back of the elephant in the story?
- Why did the rat feel ignored when people looked at the elephant?
- What did the cat say about the difference between the rat and the elephant?
- How did the rat feel after hearing the cat's comment, and what did he do afterward?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the rat thought he was as powerful as the elephant?
- How do you think the rat felt when the cat told him he was not as powerful as the elephant?
- Can you think of a time when you thought you were better at something, but then realized there were others who were more skilled or stronger?
- What does this story teach us about understanding our own abilities and limitations?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story to be humble and recognize the strengths of others in our daily lives?
Fable Quotes
Pride can blind us to our own limitations.
What you see may not be the whole truth.
It's better to be humble and respected than proud and disregarded.
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The Playful Donkey
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