The Wolf and the Lion
The Wolf and the Lion is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1890. The story follows the encounter between a wolf and a lion in the forest. The wolf, feeling hungry, approaches the lion's den, but the lion does not attack him. Instead, they engage in a conversation, with the wolf expressing his admiration for the lion's strength and power, while the lion reciprocates by complimenting the wolf on his cunning and intelligence. The two animals part ways, each respecting the other's abilities and realizing that they are not as different as they initially thought.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1893 · Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure · 119 words
First lines
An Indian who had been driven out of a fertile valley by a White Settler, said:
"Now that you have robbed me of my land, there is nothing for me to do but issue invitations to a war-dance."
"I don't so much mind your dancing," said the White Settler, putting a fresh cartridge into his rifle, "but if you attempt to make me dance you will become a good Indian lamented by all who didn't know you. How did "you" get this land, anyhow?"
The Indian's claim was compromised for a plug hat and a tin horn.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wolf and the Lion is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Animal Fiction
- Length: 119 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wolf and the Lion by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Wolf and the Lion?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Tail Of The Sphinx by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion And The Rattlesnake by Ambrose Bierce
- The Archer And The Eagle by Ambrose Bierce
- The Piping Fisherman by Ambrose Bierce
- The Man And The Eagle by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion And The Boar by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fiction — The Wolf and the Lion is a work of fiction written by Ambrose Bierce. Its main characters and plot do not represent real events, individuals or animals.
- Fantasy — The book's narrative includes animals as main characters which is a common aspect in the genre of fantasy.
- Adventure — The journey undertaken by the main characters includes a series of adventures, fulfilling a core aspect of the adventure genre.
- Drama — The book explores various dramatic situations and emotions between characters making drama a relevant genre.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · short story · classic literature · animals · nature · magic · mystery · suspense · thriller · supernatural · horror