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.
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.
Once upon a time, in a forest full of bird songs and funny squirrels, there was a deer—a girl deer, called a doe. She had one eye that was kinda fuzzy, like looking through a foggy window. But her other eye? Oh boy, it was super good at seeing stuff!
She thought, "I'm going to stand right next to this huge cliff, like I'm a movie star or something."
"Why the cliff?" Well, she thought it was the best plan ever. She kept her really good eye looking at the woods, watching for anything tricky—like hunters or yappy dogs that always want to play chase.
Her not-so-good eye? It was looking at the ocean. She laughed, "What's gonna get me there? A fish with a water gun? Haha!"
But then, one day, some guys in a boat snuck up on her from the water side. Yep, they didn't know she was supposed to be safe and all. They were like, "Hey, look, a deer! Let's try to hit it with an arrow." So they did.
POW! The arrow got her, and she tumbled down, like a clumsy cartwheel that no one clapped for.
As she lay there, she thought, "What? The ocean? Seriously? I was ready for tricks from the woods, but the water? That's just not fair!"
She thought she was super smart, but oops! She forgot to think about tricks coming from the ocean.
So there she was, having her last thoughts, and making us all think a bit too. Because, guess what? Sometimes, surprises don't just come from where you're looking. They can come from places you never ever thought of! So keep both eyes open, even if one's a bit fuzzy!
Close to a cliff so high and steep,
A doe thought she was safe, her vigil to keep.
One eye saw well, while the other did not,
But she had a plan, at least that's what she thought.
Her strong eye looked at fields so grand,
For hunters or dogs who walked on the land.
The other eye gazed at the ocean so blue,
"No harm from the sea," she thought she knew.
But men in a boat with arrows in hand,
Sailed near the shore, close to her land.
Quietly aiming, they shot from the sea,
The doe had no clue, no time to flee.
Lying there still, her breaths almost gone,
She wondered aloud, "Where did I go wrong?
I thought near the sea, I was ever so safe,
Yet danger snuck in, to that quiet space."
It's sad but it's true, her lesson was clear,
Danger can come from far or near.
So let this tale, be a guide you keep,
For safety's not found, in just one sweep.
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.
Fuzzy
Not clear or sharp, like a blurry picture.Cliff
A steep rock face, like a big wall.Tricky
Difficult to deal with or sneaky in behavior.Yappy
Describes a dog that barks a lot, usually annoying.Chase
Running after something or someone to catch it.Sneak
Move quietly or secretly to avoid being noticed.Arrow
A pointed stick used as a weapon, often in hunting.Tumbled
Fell down quickly and awkwardly, like rolling over.Cartwheel
A sideways flip where you land on your hands and feet.Surprises
Unexpected events or things you didn't see coming.
Cliff
Steep rock face that is very tall.Vigil
A watchful period, staying alert or awake.Gazed
Looked steadily at something for a long time.Sailed
Moved smoothly across water using a boat.Aiming
Pointing something, like a weapon, towards a target.Flee
Run away quickly from danger or something scary.Breaths
The air you take in and let out from your lungs.Lesson
Something learned from experience or a story.Snuck
Moved secretly or quietly to avoid being seen.Sweep
A thorough and complete look around or search.
Understanding Questions
- 1. Why did the doe believe she was safe near the sea?
- A) Because she saw other animals
- B) Because of the water
- C) Because she was tired
- D) Because it was sunny
- 2. How did the doe try to protect herself from danger on the land?
- A) By hiding in bushes
- B) By running away
- C) By climbing trees
- D) By staying still
- 3. What was the doe’s mistake in thinking about where danger could come from?
- A) She forgot to look behind her
- B) She was too busy eating
- C) She thought all danger came from the land
- D) She didn't think at all
- 4. Who attacked the doe, and how did they do it?
- A) A hunter with a bow
- B) A pack of wolves
- C) A bird of prey
- D) A snake
- 5. What did the doe realize after she was hit by the arrow?
- A) That she was not safe
- B) That she needed to run faster
- C) That she should have stayed in the water
- D) That she was dreaming
- 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?
- 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.
Just One More Fable
- Honesty
- Greed
The Donkey in the Leopard's Skin
A washerman disguises his lazy donkey as a leopard for profit, but consequences arise when the truth is revealed.
- Trust
- Consequences
The Otters and The Jackal
A jackal outsmarted two otters by dividing a fish between them and taking the best part for himself.
- Adaptability
- Contentment
The Grasshopper
A sad grasshopper leaves home to find peace but realizes that happiness comes from seeing the good around him.
- Kindness
- Respect
The Ox Who Won the Forfeit
A proud man's boastful claims about his strong Ox backfire, but after showing kindness and humility, the Ox proves its strength.