MF
MoralFables
Aesopgreed

The Dog Who Lost His Prey for a Shadow

In Aesop's classic moral story, "The Dog Who Lost His Prey for a Shadow," a dog foolishly drops its actual prey to chase after its reflection in the water, nearly drowning in the process. This entertaining tale serves as a cautionary lesson on the dangers of greed and the deception of appearances, making it a standout in short story collections with moral lessons for young readers. Aesop's fables remain among the top 10 moral stories, highlighting timeless truths about human nature.

1 min read
4 characters
The Dog Who Lost His Prey for a Shadow - Aesop's Fable illustration about greed, deception, consequences
1 min4
0:000:00
Reveal Moral

"The moral of the story is that in pursuit of illusions or superficial gains, one may lose what is truly valuable."

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Quick Facts

Age Group
kids
children
story for class 2
story for class 3
story for class 4
story for class 5
Theme
greed
deception
consequences
Characters
Dog
prey
shadow
Aesop

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