The Lion and A Donkey

The Lion, a respected leader, ignored an Donkey's disrespectful behavior, teaching others that true strength lies in composure and dignity.

In a big, green forest, there was a Lion who was the leader of all the animals. One day, as the Lion was walking around, all the other animals moved out of his way because they respected him. But when the Lion walked past a silly Donkey, the Donkey made a loud, rude noise.

At first, the Lion felt very angry. He turned around and saw the Donkey laughing at his own joke. But instead of getting mad or yelling, the Lion did something surprising. He just kept walking as if nothing happened.

The Donkey was confused and didn't know what to do. He thought the Lion would get really mad and chase him, but the Lion didn't.

The other animals saw what the Lion did and understood his choice. They learned that the Lion didn't want to waste his time on the Donkey. They saw that the Lion was strong not just because he was big and powerful, but because he could stay calm and act with respect. This taught them that true strength is not just about being strong; it's also about controlling your anger and acting with dignity.

A calm, dignified lion ignoring a braying donkey's insults nearby

Audio available for B1 version

Text Version
Intermediate (B1)

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Word Finder
  1. Leader:

    A person or animal who guides or commands others.
  2. Respected:

    Admired or valued by others for good reasons.
  3. Silly:

    Acting in a funny or foolish way, not serious.
  4. Rude:

    Not polite or showing bad manners towards others.
  5. Angry:

    Feeling mad or upset because of something.
  6. Surprising:

    Something unexpected that causes amazement or shock.
  7. Confused:

    Unable to understand or think clearly about something.
  8. Powerful:

    Having great strength or influence over others.
  9. Controlling:

    Managing or keeping your emotions or actions in check.
  10. Dignity:

    Acting in a way that shows self-respect and respect for others.
Understanding Questions
  1. Where did the story take place?
  2. How did the other animals react when the Lion walked by?
  3. What did the Donkey do when the Lion walked past him?
  4. How did the Lion respond to the Donkey's rude noise?
  5. What did the other animals learn from the Lion's reaction to the Donkey?
Reflection Questions
  1. How did the Lion react when the Donkey made a rude noise, and why do you think he reacted this way?
  2. If you were the Lion, how would you have reacted to the Donkey's behavior, and why?
  3. Can you remember a time when someone was rude to you and you chose not to respond?
  4. What does the Lion's response teach us about the strength in staying calm and maintaining dignity?
  5. How can we apply this lesson from the Lion's response to situations we face in our everyday life?
Fable Quotes

True strength is not just physical, but lies in the heart that can control anger and uphold respect.

Respect is a sign of strength, shown not by retaliation, but by maintaining dignity in the face of disrespect.

True wisdom lies in choosing battles wisely, preserving energy for what truly matters.

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