The Hare and The Hound
A Hound chased a Hare in a meadow, but the Hare's fear for his life surpassed the Hound's hunger, leading to the Hound's surrender.
In a wide, sunny meadow there was a Hare, known for his speedy legs, and a Hound, known for his keen nose. One bright morning, the Hound spotted the Hare nibbling on tender green shoots, and with a loud bark, he set off after him. The peaceful meadow erupted into a flurry of chaos as the Hound bounded after the Hare, who sprang away with surprising speed.
They dashed across the fields, over the brooks, and through the thickets. The Hound, driven by his desire for a hearty supper, chased with all his might. Meanwhile, the Hare, fueled by the fear of losing his life, raced faster than he ever had.
As the sun began to drop low in the sky, the Hound eventually slowed his pace, panting heavily. Observing from a distance, a fellow dog questioned, "Why did you give up the chase? You are known for your persistence." To which, the Hound responded, gasping for breath, "I was merely running for a meal, a little something for supper."
"But the Hare," he continued, with a hint of respect in his voice, "he was running for his very life. His motivation was much stronger than mine."
With that, the Hound settled down for the evening, leaving the Hare to reclaim his serene meadow once more.
Audio available for B1 version
In a wide, sunny meadow, there was a Hare who was very fast and a Hound who was known for his strong sense of smell.
One morning, the Hound saw the Hare eating some grass.
He barked loudly and started running after him.
The peaceful meadow quickly turned noisy as the Hound chased the Hare, who ran away quickly.
They ran across fields, over small streams, and through bushes.
The Hound, wanting a nice dinner, chased as fast as he could.
The Hare, afraid for his life, ran even faster.
As the sun began to set, the Hound got tired and slowed down, breathing heavily.
Another dog saw this and asked, "Why did you stop?
You are known for not giving up."
The Hound, still trying to catch his breath, replied, "I was only running for my dinner."
"But the Hare," he continued, with respect, "was running to save his life.
His motivation was stronger than mine."
The Hound lay down to rest, and the Hare returned to the peaceful meadow.
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Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the Hare was able to outrun the Hound, even though the Hound is known for his speed?
- Can you explain how the Hare's and the Hound's motivations were different?
- What can this story teach us about the power of motivation?
- Can you think of a time when your motivation helped you accomplish something challenging?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story to our everyday lives, particularly in terms of the things we feel motivated to do?
Fable Quotes
Chasing what is truly worth often demands our utmost perseverance.
Fear is the sprinter that outruns even the hungriest hound.
In the pursuit of survival, strength and cunning unite to conquer the challenges that threaten existence.
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