The Wolf and the Lamb by Leo Tolstoy
A wolf accuses a lamb of eating his lunch while they were together in a pen. The lamb denies it and the wolf kills him to eat his lunch. This story illustrates how accusations can be used to justify violence and oppression.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1885 · Genre: Fable, Allegory, Satire · 143 words
First lines
A Wolf saw a Lamb drinking at a river. The Wolf wanted to eat the Lamb, and so he began to annoy him. He said:
"You are muddling my water and do not let me drink."
The Lamb said:
"How can I muddle your water? I am standing downstream from you; besides, I drink with the tips of my lips."
Similar titles
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Genres
- Fable — The narrative features anthropomorphized animals and conveys a moral lesson.
- Allegory — The story represents broader themes of power dynamics and injustice.
- Satire — It critiques the abuse of power and the irrationality of the strong over the weak.
- Philosophical — The dialogue explores themes of reason, innocence, and the nature of evil.
Tags
Fable · Satire · Philosophy · Morality · Justice · Injustice · Power · Corruption · Politics · Government · Law · Ethics
What this Textopian page supports
The Wolf and the Lamb is listed on Textopian as a fable by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1885 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Allegory, Satire, Philosophical, Short Story
- Length: 143 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wolf and the Lamb by Leo Tolstoy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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