THE ASS and THE WOLF
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
A little Donkey ate grass. It was sunny. The field was green. The Donkey munched happily. Then he saw a big, hungry Wolf. The Wolf walked closer. The Wolf had sharp teeth. The Donkey felt scared. His heart beat fast. He knew the Wolf wanted to eat him.
The Donkey had a clever idea. He thought quickly. He needed to trick the Wolf. He pretended his leg hurt much. He walked slowly. He limped with a sore foot. The Donkey made a sad face. He made a soft sound.
The Wolf came closer to the Donkey. The Wolf stopped near him. "Why do you limp?" the Wolf asked. "Why is your foot sore?" The Wolf looked at the leg. He wanted to know why. He was very curious.
The Donkey looked sad. He looked at the Wolf. "Oh, dear," he said. His voice was weak. "I walked through a bush. A big bush," he added. A sharp thorn went into my foot. The thorn is deep inside. It hurts me much. He pointed to his foot.
"Please, kind Wolf," the Donkey said. The Donkey begged the Wolf. "You are so strong," he said. "Can you pull out the thorn? Use your strong teeth. Your teeth are sharp. Eat me now? The thorn might hurt you. It would be bad for you. It could stick in your throat. You would cough and choke."
The Wolf thought this was a good idea. He liked the idea. He did not want to get hurt. "Yes, I will help," he said. "Lift your foot up." He bent down low. The Wolf looked at the foot. He looked very carefully. He wanted to find the thorn.
The Donkey lifted his foot high. The Wolf was close. Then he kicked the Wolf hard. The Donkey aimed well. He kicked the Wolf in the mouth. His kick was fast. The Wolf's mouth hurt much. The Wolf cried out. His teeth were sore.
The Donkey did not wait. He turned quickly. He ran away very fast. He ran with all his might. He galloped across the field. He was free. The Donkey was safe now. The Wolf could not catch him.
The Wolf felt much pain. He rubbed his sore mouth. "Oh, dear," he growled. "My father taught me to hunt. He taught me what wolves do. I should have done that. I tried to help. "That was a big mistake." The Wolf learned a lesson. Do what you know well. Do not try things you cannot do.
Original Story
THE ASS AND THE WOLF
An Ass was feeding in a meadow, and, catching sight of his enemy the Wolf in the distance, pretended to be very lame and hobbled painfully along. When the Wolf came up, he asked the Ass how he came to be so lame, and the Ass replied that in going through a hedge he had trodden on a thorn, and he begged the Wolf to pull it out with his teeth, "In case," he said, "when you eat me, it should stick in your throat and hurt you very much." The Wolf said he would, and told the Ass to lift up his foot, and gave his whole mind to getting out the thorn. But the Ass suddenly let out with his heels and fetched the Wolf a fearful kick in the mouth, breaking his teeth; and then he galloped off at full speed. As soon as he could speak the Wolf growled to himself, "It serves me right: my father taught me to kill, and I ought to have stuck to that trade instead of attempting to cure."
Story DNA
Moral
It is best to stick to one's own trade and not meddle in affairs outside one's natural calling.
Plot Summary
An Ass, seeing a Wolf approach, pretends to be lame and claims to have a thorn in his foot, asking the Wolf to remove it for his own future benefit. The unsuspecting Wolf agrees and, while focused on the Ass's foot, receives a powerful kick to the mouth, breaking his teeth. The Ass escapes, and the injured Wolf reflects that he should have stuck to his natural predatory role instead of attempting an act of kindness.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are a collection of stories credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece. They are characterized by animal characters and a clear moral lesson.
Plot Beats (9)
- An Ass is feeding in a meadow and sees a Wolf approaching.
- The Ass pretends to be very lame and hobbles painfully.
- The Wolf approaches and asks the Ass why he is lame.
- The Ass claims he stepped on a thorn while going through a hedge.
- The Ass asks the Wolf to pull out the thorn, suggesting it would prevent the thorn from hurting the Wolf later.
- The Wolf agrees and tells the Ass to lift his foot, focusing intently on the task.
- The Ass suddenly kicks the Wolf in the mouth, breaking his teeth.
- The Ass gallops off to safety.
- The Wolf, injured, laments that he should have stuck to his natural role of killing instead of trying to 'cure'.
Characters
★
The Ass
A sturdy, medium-sized donkey with a stocky build and strong hind legs. His coat is a dusty grey, well-groomed but with a few burrs from the meadow. He has a short, stiff mane and a tail ending in a tuft of darker hair.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To survive and escape being eaten by the Wolf.
Flaw: Physically weaker than the Wolf, relying solely on cunning.
He successfully outwits a dangerous predator, confirming his resourcefulness.
Clever, quick-witted, deceptive, resourceful, and self-preserving. He uses his intelligence to outsmart a more powerful foe.
⚔
The Wolf
A lean, powerful wolf with a muscular build and shaggy, dark grey fur. He has sharp claws and a long, bushy tail. His presence is imposing and predatory.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To hunt and eat the Ass.
Flaw: His overconfidence and momentary lapse in judgment, allowing himself to be distracted by the Ass's trick.
He learns a painful lesson about sticking to his strengths and not being swayed by deception, suffering physical injury as a result.
Predatory, overconfident, somewhat gullible, and traditionalist (believing in his 'trade'). He is driven by hunger and instinct.
Locations
The Meadow
A grassy field where the Ass was feeding, bordered by a hedge.
Mood: initially peaceful, then tense and cunning
The Ass encounters the Wolf and devises a plan to escape.