The Fox And The Lion Flashcards
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Flashcard Review
Flashcards: The Fox And The Lion
What is the moral of "The Fox and the Lion"?
The fable carries two morals: "Familiarity breeds contempt" and "Acquaintance with evil blinds us to its dangers." Together they warn that repeated exposure to something dangerous does not make it less threatening — it only dulls our awareness of the risk.
What happens in "The Fox and the Lion"?
A young Fox who has never seen a Lion meets one for the first time and flees in terror. The second time, the Fox hides behind a tree to watch before slinking away. The third time, the Fox walks up boldly and greets the Lion without any fear at all.
What is the Perry Index number for this fable?
This fable is Perry Index number 10. The Perry Index is a scholarly catalog of Aesop's fables compiled by classicist Ben Edwin Perry in 1952 as part of his work <i>Aesopica</i>.
Where does the phrase "familiarity breeds contempt" come from?
While the proverb predates Aesop, it became widely associated with this fable through Jeffreys Taylor's <i>Aesop in Rhyme</i> (1820). The original Greek versions of the fable gave the simpler moral that acquaintance overcomes fear.
What is the deeper meaning of "The Fox and the Lion"?
The fable is a psychological study of how repeated exposure changes our perception of danger. The Lion never changes — he remains just as powerful and threatening — but the Fox's fear fades with each encounter. Aesop warns that losing our fear does not mean the danger has passed.
How has "The Fox and the Lion" been interpreted throughout history?
The original Greek moral was simply that acquaintance overcomes fear. In the 18th century, Samuel Croxall gave it a social reading about proper behavior toward superiors. In 1820, Jeffreys Taylor attached the "familiarity breeds contempt" proverb. Modern readers often see it as a warning about complacency in the face of genuine threats.
Is the Fox wise or foolish in this fable?
Aesop leaves this deliberately ambiguous. The Fox's growing confidence could be seen as healthy adaptation — learning that not every encounter with a lion is fatal. But the morals suggest the Fox has crossed a line from reasonable courage into reckless familiarity with a creature that could still destroy him.
What other Aesop fables explore similar themes?
Several Aesop fables examine fear, familiarity, and misjudging danger. <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-fox-and-the-monkey/" class="al-title">The Fox and the Monkey</a> explores misplaced confidence, <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-frog-and-the-mouse/" class="al-title">The Frog and the Mouse</a> warns about trusting the wrong companion, <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-bear-and-the-bees/" class="al-title">The Bear and the Bees</a> shows how underestimating small threats leads to disaster, and <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-mountain-in-labor/" class="al-title">The Mountain in Labor</a> teaches that fearsome appearances often hide trivial realities.