THE LION, JUPITER, and THE ELEPHANT
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
The Lion was very strong. He was the king of the jungle. But the Lion had a secret. He was scared of a small sound. A cock made a loud noise. "Cock's sound!" The Lion heard it. He ran away very fast. The big Lion was scared.
The Lion felt sad. He talked to Jupiter. Jupiter was very wise. "I am strong," the Lion said. "But I fear the cock's sound. Why am I like this?" Jupiter listened. He said, "This is your only problem. It is a small problem. Do not worry about it. You are still very strong."
The Lion was still ashamed. He felt very, very sad. He did not like his fear. He wished he was not scared. He wanted to be brave all the time.
One day, the Lion met The Elephant. The Elephant was very, very big. He was also very strong. The Lion saw The Elephant's ears. The ears moved all the time. The Elephant heard well. He heard small sounds. The Lion watched him.
The Lion asked The Elephant, "Why do you always listen?" The Elephant looked at the Lion. He seemed very worried.
Just then, a tiny Gnat flew by. It made a small "buzz" sound. The Gnat was very, very small. The Elephant jumped. He looked very, very scared. "Oh, no!" said The Elephant. "Do you see that tiny bug? I am very scared of it. It can fly into my ear. It will hurt me badly. Then I will be done. This small bug scares me much."
The Lion heard this. He felt much better. The Elephant was so big. But he was scared of a tiny Gnat. The Lion thought, "I fear the cock. A cock is bigger than a Gnat. My fear is fine too. Lion felt happy." He knew fear was fine at times. All have a secret fear. Even the biggest and strongest beasts.
Original Story
THE LION, JUPITER, AND THE ELEPHANT
The Lion, for all his size and strength, and his sharp teeth and claws, is a coward in one thing: he can't bear the sound of a cock crowing, and runs away whenever he hears it. He complained bitterly to Jupiter for making him like that; but Jupiter said it wasn't his fault: he had done the best he could for him, and, considering this was his only failing, he ought to be well content. The Lion, however, wouldn't be comforted, and was so ashamed of his timidity that he wished he might die. In this state of mind, he met the Elephant and had a talk with him. He noticed that the great beast cocked up his ears all the time, as if he were listening for something, and he asked him why he did so. Just then a gnat came humming by, and the Elephant said, "Do you see that wretched little buzzing insect? I'm terribly afraid of its getting into my ear: if it once gets in, I'm dead and done for." The Lion's spirits rose at once when he heard this: "For," he said to himself, "if the Elephant, huge as he is, is afraid of a gnat, I needn't be so much ashamed of being afraid of a cock, who is ten thousand times bigger than a gnat."
Story DNA
Moral
Everyone, no matter how great or strong, has their own fears and weaknesses, so one should not be overly ashamed of their own.
Plot Summary
The mighty Lion is deeply ashamed of his irrational fear of cock crows and complains to Jupiter, who tells him it's his only flaw. Still inconsolable, the Lion encounters the enormous Elephant, who he observes constantly listening intently. The Elephant reveals his own profound fear of a tiny gnat entering his ear, believing it would be fatal. This revelation immediately lifts the Lion's spirits, as he realizes that even the most powerful creatures have their own seemingly irrational fears, making his own less shameful.
Themes
Emotional Arc
shame to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. They are characterized by animal characters and a clear moral lesson.
Plot Beats (7)
- The Lion, despite his strength, is terrified of cock crows and runs away from them.
- He complains to Jupiter about this weakness, but Jupiter dismisses it as his only flaw and advises contentment.
- The Lion remains ashamed and wishes for death due to his timidity.
- He meets the Elephant and notices the large beast constantly listening intently.
- The Lion asks the Elephant why he is so attentive.
- A gnat flies by, and the Elephant reveals his mortal fear of the tiny insect entering his ear.
- The Lion immediately feels better, realizing that if the huge Elephant fears a gnat, his own fear of a cock is not so unique or shameful.
Characters
★
The Lion
A large, muscular male lion, standing approximately 4 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing around 400-500 pounds. His body is covered in powerful muscles, indicative of his strength. He has a tawny-gold coat, thick and well-groomed, with powerful legs and large, sharp claws that are usually retracted.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To overcome his singular fear and maintain his dignity and reputation as a fearless king.
Flaw: An irrational, overwhelming fear of the sound of a cock crowing, which shames him deeply.
Starts in a state of deep shame and self-pity over his fear. He finds solace and a renewed sense of self-acceptance by realizing that even the mightiest creatures have their own unique vulnerabilities.
Proud, powerful, easily shamed, self-pitying, somewhat insecure despite his strength, and ultimately finds comfort in shared vulnerability.
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Jupiter
A majestic and imposing figure, embodying divine authority. He is depicted with a powerful, muscular physique, suggesting immense strength and cosmic power. His form is often wreathed in subtle, ethereal light, indicating his divine nature.
Attire: Draped in flowing, regal robes of deep purple or rich blue, made of fine, heavy fabric, possibly adorned with subtle gold embroidery. His shoulders might be covered by a cloak fastened with a large, ornate clasp.
Wants: To maintain cosmic order and impart lessons about acceptance and perspective.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; as a deity, he is presented as infallible in his judgments.
Remains constant, serving as a source of divine wisdom and an unyielding force of nature's design.
Wise, just, pragmatic, somewhat detached, and firm in his decisions, not prone to coddling.
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The Elephant
An enormous, grey-skinned male elephant, standing approximately 10-13 feet tall at the shoulder. His skin is thick, wrinkled, and leathery, with sparse, coarse hairs. He possesses massive, curved ivory tusks extending from his upper jaw and a long, prehensile trunk. His ears are large and fan-shaped.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To avoid the perceived threat of a gnat entering his ear, and generally to live peacefully.
Flaw: An irrational fear of a tiny gnat entering his ear, which he believes would be fatal.
Remains constant, serving as a foil to the Lion, demonstrating that even the mightiest have their unique fears.
Massive and outwardly powerful, yet surprisingly timid and anxious about specific, small threats. He is honest about his fears.
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The Gnat
An extremely tiny, delicate insect, barely visible to the naked eye. It has a slender, segmented body, six thin legs, and two translucent, veined wings that beat rapidly, creating a high-pitched buzzing sound.
Attire: None, as it is an insect.
Wants: To fly and buzz, as is its nature.
Flaw: Its fragility and short lifespan.
Remains constant, serving as a symbol of an unexpected, disproportionate fear.
Unaware of its own impact, simply existing and following its insect instincts.
○
The Cock
A medium-sized domestic fowl, approximately 1.5 to 2 feet tall. It has a sturdy body covered in iridescent, brightly colored feathers, typically a mix of red, green, gold, and black. Its legs are scaly with sharp spurs.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To crow and assert its presence, as is its instinct.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; its crowing is its most notable feature.
Remains constant, serving as the unwitting source of the Lion's shame.
Proud, territorial, and vocal, fulfilling its natural role without malice.
Locations
African Savanna
A vast, open grassland under a wide sky, dotted with acacia trees and distant rocky outcrops. The ground is dry and dusty, with patches of tough, yellowed grass.
Mood: Initially desolate and melancholic for the Lion, then shifting to a more neutral, observational tone.
The Lion, in his shame, wanders and eventually encounters the Elephant, leading to their conversation.