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Once upon a time, there lived a young fox in a dense forest. The fox wouldn’t listen to its mother’s warnings that there are dangerous animals in the forest. It often went deep into the forest on its own to play with other animals.
One day, the fox went out on a mini adventure to play with a tribe of monkeys. They sang and chased each other for hours, creating a lot of noise in the process.
The noise disturbed the king of the jungle, who was taking a nap after returning from his hunt and enjoying a heavy lunch. The furious lion approached the troublemakers and let out a deafening and wild roar. The monkeys ran for their lives, while the fox, who had never seen such a mighty and terrifying creature before, went numb with fear and fell at the lion’s feet.
After a week, the fox went out to play hide and seek with a colony of rabbits. When it was the fox’s turn to hide, it went behind a huge rock. Just then, the fox saw the lion approaching along with its cubs and the mother lioness. This time, the fox moved toward a tree and kept a safe distance from the lion family to save himself from becoming their prey.
A month had passed, and there was no sign of the lion. “Perhaps, the lion and its family are indoors due to the rain.” the cunning fox thought.
A few days after the skies cleared, the fox ventured deep into the forest and came across a huge hole in a hill. It went up the hill and saw the lion in its den, chewing on a bone with its sharp teeth. It also saw the mother lioness feeding its cubs.
“Long time no see, Mr. Lion. How are the cubs and the mother doing?” the fox asked. The casual attitude of the fox irked the fierce lion. It grabbed the fox by its neck with its claws and with full strength and sent it rolling down the hill to teach the fox a lesson. “Long time no see,” the lion mumbled to itself and went back to chewing the bone.
Moral of the story
The moral of this fable is not to let familiarity or constant association make you lose your respect for someone. Also, one must exercise caution in new friendships. It is foolishness to think one’s cleverness can overpower another’s brute strength.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the relationship between the fox and the lion in the story?
There is no direct relationship portrayed between the fox and the lion. Instead, the story focuses on their interaction over their chance encounters and the consequences of the casual attitude shown by the fox.
2. What is the reaction of the lion to the fox’s plan?
Seeing the lack of respect and the careless demeanor shown by the fox, the lion responded by attacking the fox, causing it to roll down the hill to teach him a lesson about proper manners.
3. What genre does the story of the fox and the lion come under?
The above animal story for kids belongs to the fable genre because it showcases animals behaving and talking like humans to reveal their flaws and weaknesses and convey a moral lesson.
4. What is the significance of the fox’s character in the story?
In the story, the fox represents cleverness and caution when hiding from the fierce lion. However, he also embodies negligence, as he assumes his brief familiarity with the lion will spare him from a painful death—an assumption that proves fatal.
Key Pointers
- Reading stories to your children with morals helps you teach them about important life lessons in a creative way.
- The story about the fox and the lion is a great way of teaching children the importance of listening to their parents’ guidance.
- This story also highlights the importance of not letting one lose respect for another, owing to constant association.
- Storytelling is also a great time for bonding and spending quality time with your little ones.
Illustration: The Fox And The Lion Story With Moral
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
The popular Aesop fable “The Old Lion and the Fox” remains relevant to this day! Watch this video to see how the cunning fox outsmarts the powerful lion. This story is a universal children’s favorite.
The popular Aesop’s fable “The Old Lion and the Fox” remains relevant to this day! Watch this video to see how the cunning fox outsmarts the powerful lion. This story is a children’s favorite universally.
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