THE HUNGRY WOLF
by Valerian Viliamovich Karrik · from More Russian Picture Tales
Adapted Version
Once there was a Wolf. He was very, very hungry. "I need food!" he said.
Wolf walked in a field. He saw a Ram. "Ram, I will eat you!" Wolf said. Ram looked at Wolf. "Who are you?" Ram asked.
"I am a Wolf," Wolf said. "I am hungry." Ram smiled. "Okay," Ram said. "Stand at the hill bottom. Open your mouth wide. I will jump in."
Wolf stood at the hill bottom. He opened his mouth wide. Ram ran down the hill. Ram bumped Wolf hard. Wolf fell to the ground. Ram ran far away.
Wolf got up slowly. His bones hurt. "Oh, I made a mistake!" Wolf thought. "No Ram jumps in mouth." Wolf was still hungry.
Wolf walked again. He saw a Horse. "Horse, I will eat you!" Wolf said. Horse looked at Wolf. "Who are you?" Horse asked.
"I am a Wolf," Wolf said. "I am hungry." Horse smiled. "Okay," Horse said. "Eat my tail first. I will get fat."
Wolf went to the tail. He wanted to eat it. Horse kicked Wolf away. Wolf fell to the ground. Horse ran far away.
Wolf got up slowly. His body hurt. "Oh, I made a mistake again!" Wolf thought. "No one eats tail first." Wolf was still hungry.
Wolf walked again. He saw a Pig. "Pig, I will eat you!" Wolf said. Pig looked at Wolf. "Who are you?" Pig asked.
"I am a Wolf," Wolf said. "I am hungry." Pig smiled. "Okay," Pig said. "Sit on my back. I will give you a ride."
Wolf sat on Pig's back. Pig ran fast. Pig ran to the village.
Dogs barked loudly. Dogs ran to the Wolf. Dogs chased the Wolf. Wolf ran to the forest. He was tired and sore. Wolf was still hungry. The Wolf was big. The animals were clever. Clever is better!
Original Story
THE HUNGRY WOLF.
There was once a wolf, and he got very hungry, and so he went to have a look to see what he could find for dinner. After a bit he saw a ram feeding in a meadow, so he went up to him and said: “Mr. Ram, Mr. Ram, I'm going to eat you!” But the ram answered: “Who are you, I should like to know, that you mean to eat me?”
“I'm a wolf, and I'm looking for a good dinner,” said the wolf. “What sort of a wolf do you fancy you are?” answered the ram, “you're not, you're a dog!” “No, I'm not a dog,” said he, “I'm a wolf.” “Well then,” answered the ram, “if you're a wolf, stand at the bottom of the hill and open your jaws wide. Then I'll run down the hill and jump straight into your mouth.” “All right,” said the wolf.
So he stood at the bottom of the hill and opened his mouth wide, while the ram climbed to the top of the hill. Then he ran down the hill very fast, and hit the wolf with his horns as hard as he could.
The wolf rolled over, knocked senseless with the blow, while the ram ran off home. And there lay the wolf, till at last he came to himself again, with all his bones aching.
“Well, what a fool I must have been!” thought he. “Who ever saw a ram jump into one's mouth of his own free will?”
Then he went on further, just as hungry as ever, and after a bit he saw a horse walking in a meadow nibbling the grass.
So he went up to him and said: “Mr. Horse, Mr. Horse, I'm going to eat you!” But the horse answered: “Who are you, I should like to know, that you mean to eat me?” “I'm a wolf!” “You think again,” answered the horse, “You're only a dog!” “No, I'm not a dog,” said he, “I'm a wolf.” “Oh, if you are sure you're a wolf, it's all right. Only I'm not very fat yet, so you'd better begin on my tail, and meanwhile I'll be munching some more grass and get a little fuller.”
So the wolf went up to him from behind, and was just going to get to work on his tail, when the horse let out at him as hard as he could! And the wolf rolled over, while the horse ran off.
And there sat the wolf, and he thought: “Well, wasn't I a fool! wasn't I a noodle! Who ever heard of anyone starting to eat a horse by the tail?”
And so he wandered on further, when after a bit he saw a pig coming towards him, so when he got to him he said: “Mr. Pig, Mr. Pig, I'm going to eat you!” But the pig answered: “Who are you, I should like to know, that you mean to eat me?” “I'm a wolf.” “You're a queer sort of wolf,” answered the pig, “you're only a dog!” “No, I'm not a dog,” said he, “I'm a wolf!” “Oh, that's all right then,” answered the pig, “you just sit down on my back. I'll give you a ride, and then you can eat me.”
So the wolf sat down on the pig's back, when lo and behold! the pig carried him straight into the village.
And all the dogs ran out, made a dash for the wolf, and began to tease him.
And they teased him so much, it was all he could do to tear himself away and run off back into the forest.
Guess how old I am!
Story DNA
Moral
Even the most fearsome predator can be outsmarted by clever prey.
Plot Summary
A very hungry wolf sets out to find dinner. He first encounters a ram, who tricks him into being headbutted senseless. Still hungry, the wolf then tries to eat a horse, who tricks him into being kicked. Finally, the wolf encounters a pig, who tricks him into riding into a village where he is attacked by dogs. The wolf barely escapes, returning to the forest still hungry and thoroughly humiliated by his repeated foolishness.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confidence to humiliation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Valerian Viliamovich Karrik was a Russian illustrator and author, known for collecting and retelling folk tales.
Plot Beats (13)
- A hungry wolf goes searching for food.
- The wolf encounters a ram and announces his intention to eat him.
- The ram questions the wolf's identity, then proposes a way for the wolf to eat him: stand at the bottom of a hill with jaws open.
- The wolf agrees, and the ram runs down the hill, headbutting the wolf senseless before escaping.
- The wolf recovers, realizing his foolishness, and continues his search.
- The wolf encounters a horse and announces his intention to eat him.
- The horse questions the wolf's identity, then suggests the wolf start eating his tail while he fattens up.
- The wolf agrees, and as he approaches the tail, the horse kicks him hard before escaping.
- The wolf recovers, again realizing his foolishness, and continues his search.
- The wolf encounters a pig and announces his intention to eat him.
- The pig questions the wolf's identity, then suggests the wolf sit on his back for a ride before eating him.
- The wolf agrees, and the pig carries him directly into a village.
- Village dogs attack the wolf, who barely manages to escape back to the forest, still hungry and beaten.
Characters
The Wolf ★ protagonist
A gaunt, medium-sized wolf with a lean, hungry build. His fur is matted and dusty, indicating a life of hardship and poor hunting. His ribs are likely visible beneath his fur due to his constant hunger.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To find food and satisfy his insatiable hunger.
Flaw: His extreme hunger makes him desperate and easily tricked. He lacks critical thinking and falls for obvious ploys.
He starts as a confident predator but ends up as a bruised, battered, and humiliated fool, learning nothing from his experiences except perhaps to avoid villages.
Hungry, gullible, persistent, somewhat dim-witted, easily tricked.
Image Prompt & Upload
A gaunt, medium-sized grey-brown wolf standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. His fur is matted and dusty, and his ribs are subtly visible. He has a long, pointed snout with a black nose, dull yellow eyes, and erect triangular ears. His expression is a mix of hunger and naive confusion. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Ram ◆ supporting
A sturdy, muscular ram with a thick, woolly coat. He is of a good size, indicating strength and health, well-fed from the meadow grass.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To survive and protect himself from predators.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, he is presented as entirely capable.
Remains consistent as a clever survivor.
Clever, quick-witted, brave, resourceful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy, muscular ram standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a thick, creamy white woolly coat. His face is broad with intelligent dark brown eyes and a short muzzle. He has large, dark brown spiraling horns. His posture is confident and alert. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Horse ◆ supporting
A robust, healthy horse, likely a draft or farm horse, with strong hindquarters. His coat is well-maintained, suggesting he is cared for, even if he claims not to be fat.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To survive and avoid being eaten.
Flaw: None explicitly shown.
Remains consistent as a clever survivor.
Clever, cunning, pragmatic, decisive.
Image Prompt & Upload
A robust, healthy bay horse standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a long, noble face with large, dark, intelligent eyes. His mane and tail are thick and black. His posture is calm but alert, with strong hindquarters. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Pig ◆ supporting
A stout, well-fed pig, typical of a farm animal, with a round body and short legs. His skin is pinkish, possibly with some dark spots, and his bristles are coarse.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To survive and escape the wolf.
Flaw: None explicitly shown.
Remains consistent as a clever survivor.
Cunning, deceptive, resourceful, brave.
Image Prompt & Upload
A stout, well-fed pink pig standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a round body, short legs, a distinctive snout, small intelligent dark eyes, and floppy ears. His bristles are short and coarse. His expression is sly and cunning. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Village Dogs ○ minor
A pack of various domestic dogs, likely of mixed breeds common to a village setting. They would range in size and color, but all would appear healthy and energetic, ready to defend their territory.
Attire: None, as they are animals.
Wants: To protect their village and chase away intruders.
Flaw: None shown.
Remain consistent as a protective force.
Territorial, aggressive, protective, united.
Image Prompt & Upload
A diverse pack of three to five domestic dogs of various breeds (e.g., a scruffy terrier mix, a sturdy shepherd mix, a sleek hound mix) standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. They have alert eyes, bared teeth, and their fur ranges in color and texture. They are in an aggressive, barking posture, ready to chase. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Grassy Hillside Meadow
A gently sloping meadow, lush with green grass, leading up to a small hill. The ground is firm enough for a ram to gain significant speed.
Mood: Initially peaceful, then tense and ultimately humiliating for the wolf.
The wolf's first attempt to eat, where he is outsmarted and head-butted by the ram.
Image Prompt & Upload
A verdant, gently sloping meadow under a bright morning sun, with a small, rounded hill rising in the background. The grass is a rich emerald green, dotted with small, colorful wildflowers. A clear blue sky stretches overhead, with soft, wispy clouds. The ground shows subtle undulations, suggesting a path for a running animal. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Open Meadow with Grazing Horse
Another open meadow, similar to the first but perhaps flatter, where a horse is calmly grazing. The grass is plentiful and green.
Mood: Deceptively calm, leading to another painful surprise for the wolf.
The wolf's second attempt to eat, where he is kicked by the horse.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, sun-drenched meadow in the late afternoon, with long, swaying green grass that reaches a horse's knees. The ground is flat and expansive, stretching towards a distant line of dark green deciduous trees under a warm, clear sky. Golden sunlight casts long shadows, highlighting the texture of the grass. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Rural Village Edge
The outskirts of a small, rustic village, characterized by simple wooden houses, a dirt path, and the presence of domestic animals. The transition from wild forest to human habitation is evident.
Mood: Initially unsuspecting, then chaotic and frightening for the wolf.
The wolf is tricked by the pig and carried into the village, where he is attacked by dogs.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dusty, well-trodden dirt path leading into the edge of a small, rustic Eastern European village. Simple, weathered wooden houses with thatched roofs and small, square windows line the path, some with low picket fences. The ground is dry earth, with sparse patches of grass. In the distance, the dark edge of a forest looms. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Dense Forest
A thick, dark forest, providing refuge and concealment. The trees are close together, and the undergrowth is dense.
Mood: Safe haven, but also a place of reflection and lingering hunger for the wolf.
The wolf retreats here after being chased from the village, reflecting on his foolishness.
Image Prompt & Upload
A deep, dense forest interior, with tall, straight pine and birch trees growing closely together, their canopies forming a thick, dappled roof. Patches of sunlight filter through, creating bright spots on the forest floor, which is covered in a rich carpet of fallen leaves, pine needles, and moss. Thick undergrowth and ferns fill the spaces between the tree trunks, creating a sense of enclosure and depth. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
