The One-Eyed Doe
A doe with one good eye stayed close to a cliff, feeling safe from harm, but was ultimately shot from an unexpected direction.
Once upon a time, there was a doe, a kind of deer, who couldn't see well with one of her eyes. But her other eye was perfectly fine. She thought she was clever and stayed close to the edge of a high cliff where she felt safe.
She always looked at the land with her good eye to see if any hunters or dogs were coming. Her bad eye, the one that didn't see well, looked out over the sea. She believed nothing bad could come from the water.
One day, some men in a boat were sailing close to the shore. They saw the doe standing near the cliff. Quietly, they aimed an arrow at her and hit her. She fell down.
As the doe lay there, she thought, "How did this happen? I thought I was safe by the sea. I never thought danger could come from this side."
The poor doe learned too late that danger can come from anywhere, even from places we don’t expect.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there was a doe, a kind of deer, who couldn't see well with one of her eyes.
But her other eye was perfectly fine.
She thought she was clever and stayed close to the edge of a high cliff where she felt safe.
She always looked at the land with her good eye to see if any hunters or dogs were coming.
Her bad eye, the one that didn't see well, looked out over the sea.
She believed nothing bad could come from the water.
One day, some men in a boat were sailing close to the shore.
They saw the doe standing near the cliff.
Quietly, they aimed an arrow at her and hit her. She fell down.
As the doe lay there, she thought, "How did this happen?
I thought I was safe by the sea.
I never thought danger could come from this side."
The poor doe learned too late that danger can come from anywhere, even from places we don’t expect.
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Word Finder
Doe:
A female deer that lives in forests.Cliff:
A high, steep rock near land or water.Hunters:
People who catch or kill animals for food.Arrow:
A sharp stick used as a weapon, shot by a bow.Sailing:
Traveling on water using a boat and wind.Shore:
The land next to a sea, lake, or river.Danger:
A possible event that can cause harm or injury.Quietly:
Doing something without making any sound or noise.Aimed:
Pointing a weapon or tool at something specific.Expect:
To think something will probably happen in the future.
Understanding Questions
- Why did the doe believe she was safe near the sea?
- How did the doe try to protect herself from danger on the land?
- What was the doe’s mistake in thinking about where danger could come from?
- Who attacked the doe, and how did they do it?
- What did the doe realize after she was hit by the arrow?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the doe chose to stay near the cliff and the sea?
- How did the doe's belief about where danger could come from lead to her downfall?
- Can you think of a time when something unexpected happened because you weren't fully prepared?
- What does this story teach us about being aware and cautious of our surroundings?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story in our lives to be more prepared for unexpected situations?
Fable Quotes
Caution guards against danger from all directions, for ignorance of peril can lead to fatal consequences.
Don't be blinded by limited perception; danger may lurk where you least expect it.
Adaptability is the key to survival, for danger can come from the most unexpected places.
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Two mules traveled; one mule flaunted his sparkly treasure and attracted robbers, while the other, carrying grain, escaped unnoticed and unharmed.
- Deception
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The Lion and the Three Bulls
A clever lion tricked three bulls into fighting each other, leaving them weak and alone, and ate them!