The Wolf And The Lion Flashcards
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Flashcard Review
Flashcards: The Wolf And The Lion
What is the moral of The Wolf and the Lion?
<p>The moral is <strong>"What is evil won is evil lost."</strong> Aesop teaches that ill-gotten gains are never secure. The Wolf stole a Lamb from a Shepherd, only to have a Lion take it from him by the same logic—superior force. The fable warns that those who profit through dishonesty or theft should not be surprised when someone stronger uses the same tactics against them.</p>
What is the story of The Wolf and the Lion about?
<p>A Wolf steals a Lamb and is carrying it to his den when a Lion appears and takes the Lamb away. The Wolf retreats to a safe distance and protests that the Lion has no right to take his "property." The Lion calmly asks whether the Wolf bought the Lamb or received it as a gift—exposing the hypocrisy of a thief who complains about being robbed.</p>
Why does the Wolf complain to the Lion?
<p>The Wolf complains because he genuinely feels wronged—he sees the Lamb as his property, even though he stole it. This is the central irony of the fable. The Wolf is blind to his own dishonesty and applies a double standard: theft is acceptable when <em>he</em> does it, but outrageous when someone does it to <em>him</em>. Aesop uses this moment to illustrate how easily people justify their own wrongdoing while condemning the same behavior in others.</p>
What does the Lion's question reveal?
<p>The Lion asks, "Did you buy it, or did the Shepherd make you a gift of it?" This question is devastating because there is no honest answer the Wolf can give. He did not earn, purchase, or receive the Lamb willingly—he stole it. The Lion's question strips away the Wolf's pretense of ownership and forces the reader to see that possession alone does not create a legitimate claim to property.</p>
What is the Perry Index number for The Wolf and the Lion?
<p>This version of "The Wolf and the Lion"—in which a Wolf steals a Lamb and a Lion takes it—is <strong>Perry Index 347</strong>. It should not be confused with a different fable of the same title (Perry Index 260), in which a Wolf admires his own elongated shadow at sunset and is then killed by a Lion. Both fables are attributed to Aesop but teach different lessons.</p>
What themes does The Wolf and the Lion teach?
<p>The fable explores several interconnected themes: <strong>hypocrisy</strong> (the Wolf condemns in others what he practices himself), <strong>justice</strong> (ill-gotten gains are inherently unstable), <strong>power</strong> (might alone cannot create moral authority), and <strong>self-deception</strong> (the Wolf truly believes he has been wronged). Together, these themes deliver Aesop's warning that dishonest advantages never last.</p>
Is the Lion the hero of the fable?
<p>No. Aesop does not present the Lion as a hero. The Lion takes the Lamb by force, just as the Wolf did—he simply happens to be stronger. The fable is not about good versus evil; it is about <strong>the futility of claiming rights you have denied to others</strong>. Neither animal acts justly. The Lion serves as an instrument of poetic justice rather than a moral role model.</p>
What other Aesop fables explore similar themes?
<p>Several Aesop fables deal with hypocrisy, justice, and the consequences of dishonesty. <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-ass-and-his-purchaser/" class="al-title">The Ass and His Purchaser</a> shows how true character eventually reveals itself. <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-father-and-his-sons/" class="al-title">The Father and His Sons</a> teaches that unity provides strength against exploitation. <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-fox-and-the-goat/" class="al-title">The Fox and the Goat</a> warns against trusting those who act only in self-interest. And <a href="/author/aesop/short-story/the-lion-and-the-statue/" class="al-title">The Lion and the Statue</a> questions whether appearances reflect truth or the biases of those who create them.</p>