The Wild Ass and the Lion: Moral and Lesson Plan

"You are strong," said the wild donkey to the lion, "and I am fast. Think what we could catch together!"

So they made a bargain. The wild donkey chased the forest beasts until they could run no more, and the lion leaped out and brought them down. By sunset they had all they needed.

"I will share it out," said the lion. He pushed the catch into three piles, taking his time, while the donkey stood and watched.

"This first pile is mine," said the lion, "because I am king."

He put his paw on the second. "This pile is mine too, because I am your partner in the hunt."

The donkey looked at the third pile. It was the only one left. The lion looked at it too, and then he showed his teeth. "As for this one," he said, "it will bring you nothing but trouble, unless you leave it to me and run as fast as you can."

The moral

When the strong do the sharing, the weak get nothing.

One thing to talk aboutIf you were the wild donkey, what would you have said to the lion?

Discussion questions

The bargain was the wild donkey's own idea. What should he have asked the lion before they started hunting?
The lion calls himself a partner and still takes the pile. What do you think a real partner would have done at sunset?
The wild donkey says nothing while the lion shares out the catch. What could he have said or done, if anything?

The Wild Ass and the Lion

Discussion questions

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Good night.