The Gnat and The Bull
A gnat lands on a bull's horn, but its departure goes unnoticed, realizing its presence didn't matter much to the bull.
Once upon a time, a very small gnat landed on the horn of a very big bull. The gnat enjoyed the nice view from the top of the horn for a while. When it was time to go, it made a small humming sound. It then asked the bull, "Can I go now?"
The bull, who was busy eating some tasty grass, looked up and said in a deep voice that filled the field, "I didn't even notice you were here. You leaving won't make any difference."
The gnat was surprised by this and then flew away, making a buzzing sound. As it flew, it thought about how sometimes, even the smallest creatures might think they are very important to the world, but they might not be as important as they think. The bull kept eating grass, enjoying the quiet and the beauty of the field.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, a very small gnat landed on the horn of a very big bull. The gnat enjoyed the nice view from the top of the horn for a while. When it was time to go, it made a small humming sound. It then asked the bull, "Can I go now?"
The bull, who was busy eating some tasty grass, looked up and said in a deep voice that filled the field, "I didn't even notice you were here. You leaving won't make any difference."
The gnat was surprised by this and then flew away, making a buzzing sound. As it flew, it thought about how sometimes, even the smallest creatures might think they are very important to the world, but they might not be as important as they think. The bull kept eating grass, enjoying the quiet and the beauty of the field.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Word Finder
Gnat
A very small, flying insect.Horn
Hard, pointed part on some animals' heads.View
What you can see from a place.Humming
Soft, continuous sound like a buzz.Tasty
Very good flavor or delicious.Difference
A change or effect on something.Surprised
Feeling sudden shock or wonder.Buzzing
Making a continuous, low sound.Important
Having great value or significance.Enjoying
Feeling pleasure or happiness about something.
Understanding Questions
- Where did the gnat land at the beginning of the story?
- What did the gnat enjoy while it was on the horn of the bull?
- How did the bull react when the gnat asked if it could leave?
- What did the gnat realize about its importance after the bull's response?
- What did the bull continue doing after the gnat flew away?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the gnat felt the need to announce its departure to the bull?
- How do you think the bull felt when the gnat told him he was about to leave?
- Can you think of a time when you or someone else thought they were more important to a situation than they really were?
- What does this story teach us about self-importance and recognizing our role in the bigger picture?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story in our own lives to better understand and acknowledge our impact on others?
Fable Quotes
In humility, we understand our place in the world.
Our impact is often not as large as we perceive it to be.
Find joy in your own existence, not in the acknowledgment of others.
Just One More Fable
- Trickery
- Greed
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
Curious spider Anansi finds a magical rock that puts animals to sleep; he tricks them but is eventually outsmarted.
- Love
- Bravery
The Story of the Great Monkey
A wise and brave monkey leader saves his tribe from danger, earning admiration and protection from a human king.
- Deception
- Trust
The Weasel and The Mice
An old weasel, unable to catch prey due to age, deceives mice by disguising itself with flour, but a wise old mouse exposes the trick.
- Consequences
- Gratitude
The Hart and The Vine
A majestic hart evades hunters by hiding under a plant, but is eventually discovered and harmed due to eating its leaves.