The Wily Lion by Esopo (1667)
The Wily Lion, by Esopo: A classic fable about a lion who tries to trick a mouse into revealing its hiding place. The mouse outsmarts the lion and escapes, proving that even the smallest of creatures can outwit the mightiest.
By Esopo · First published 1667 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore · 188 words
First lines
A Lion watched a fat Bull feeding in a meadow, and his mouth watered when he thought of the royal feast he would make, but he did not dare to attack him, for he was afraid of his sharp horns. Hunger, however, presently compelled him to do something: and as the use of force did not promise success, he determined to resort to artifice. Going up to the Bull in friendly fashion, he said to him, "I cannot help saying how much I admire your magnificent figure. What a fine head! What powerful shoulders and thighs! But, my dear friend, what in the world makes you wear those ugly horns? You must find them as awkward as they are unsightly. Believe me, you would do much better without them. " The Bull was foolish enough to be persuaded by this flattery to have his horns cut off; and, having now lost his only means of defence, fell an easy prey to the Lion.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wily Lion is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1667 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Esopo
- Date: 1667 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 188 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wily Lion by Esopo
- 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 Wily Lion?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Bat And The Weasels by Esopo
- The Wolf The Fox And The Ape by Esopo
- The Lion And The Hare by Esopo
- The Eagle The Cat And The Wild Sow by Esopo
- The Dogs And The Fox by Esopo
- The Lion The Fox And The Stag by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — This book is written by Esopo, known for his fables which typically feature anthropomorphized animals, such as the titular lion.
- Children's Literature — Fables, like those by Esopo, are commonly used as moral lessons for children, making this genre a probable categorization.
- Folklore — Esopo's tales often consist of conventional wisdom and morality, fitting the genre of folklore.
- Fantasy — The anthropomorphization of animals speaks to elements of fantasy.
Tags
fable · lion · wisdom · cunning · animals · morality · deception · strategy · adventure · friendship · courage · nature