The wolf as Governor and the Donkey
A clever and eloquent Wolf becomes the leader, proposes sharing food, but the Donkey exposes his hidden selfishness, surprising the Wolves.
Long ago, the Wolves had a meeting. They needed to choose a leader from their pack. They chose a Wolf who was known for being smart and speaking well. This Wolf was a bit tricky, but his words were so smooth that no one really noticed.
Soon after becoming the leader, this Wolf called all the Wolves together. He said, "I want to talk about something very important. It's something that will help us all. We need to be less selfish. When we hunt, we should share what we catch with any hungry Wolf."
Just as he finished his speech, a Donkey, who had been listening nearby, spoke up. "What a wonderful idea!" said the Donkey. "I’m sure you'll be the first to share your food. Maybe you could start with the fat Sheep you hid in your den yesterday."
This showed the truth behind the Wolf’s words, surprising all the Wolves who had believed him.
Audio available for B1 version
Long ago, the Wolves had a meeting.
They needed to choose a leader from their pack.
They chose a Wolf who was known for being smart and speaking well.
This Wolf was a bit tricky, but his words were so smooth that no one really noticed.
Soon after becoming the leader, this Wolf called all the Wolves together.
He said, "I want to talk about something very important.
It's something that will help us all.
We need to be less selfish.
When we hunt, we should share what we catch with any hungry Wolf."
Just as he finished his speech, a Donkey, who had been listening nearby, spoke up.
"What a wonderful idea!" said the Donkey.
"I’m sure you'll be the first to share your food.
Maybe you could start with the fat Sheep you hid in your den yesterday."
This showed the truth behind the Wolf’s words, surprising all the Wolves who had believed him.
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Word Finder
Leader
The one who guides and helps others.Pack
A group of animals that live together.Smooth
Soft and nice, without roughness or bumps.Selfish
Only thinking about yourself, not sharing.Hunt
To search for animals to catch or eat.Catch
To grab or get something that's moving.Speech
Words spoken in front of other people.Den
A home where some animals rest or sleep.Nearby
Close, not far from where you are.Surprising
Making you feel something unexpected happened.
Understanding Questions
- Why did the Wolves choose the tricky Wolf as their leader?
- What did the new leader suggest the Wolves should do when they hunt?
- Who was listening to the Wolf’s speech and spoke up afterward?
- What did the Donkey say about the Wolf’s hidden Sheep?
- How did the Wolves feel after hearing what the Donkey said?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the Wolf was chosen as the leader of the Wolves?
- How did the Wolf plan to make things better for the group according to his speech?
- What did the Donkey reveal about the Wolf's true nature, and how do you think it made the other Wolves feel?
- What does this story teach us about honesty and hypocrisy?
- Can you think of a time when actions were more important than words, similar to this story?
Fable Quotes
A leader is not one who shares the spoils, but one who bears the responsibility.
Deceit, like a shadow, can never stand in the light of truth.
Trust misplaced brings revealing truths, exposing the hidden intentions of those who weave deceitful words.
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