Aesop
|
Greece

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A wolf disguises himself as a sheep to blend in and prey on a flock, but is eventually discovered and killed.
Justice
Consequences
Deception
Aesop's Fables - The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, there was a cunning wolf who lived in a dense forest. He was always on the lookout for an easy meal, but the animals in the forest were vigilant and cautious of the wolf. They knew of his evil intentions and made sure to keep a safe distance from him.

One day, the wolf came across the carcass of a sheep that had died of natural causes. An idea struck him, and he decided to use the sheep's skin as a disguise. He carefully skinned the sheep and draped its woolly coat around himself. With this clever ruse, he thought he could easily mingle with the flock and prey on them without suspicion.

The next day, the wolf joined a flock of sheep that were grazing in a lush meadow. The sheep were unaware of the danger lurking among them, as the wolf blended in seamlessly with his sheep's clothing. He managed to get close to the unsuspecting sheep and bide his time.

For a while, the wolf lived among the sheep, taking advantage of their trust and goodwill. He would discreetly feast on a sheep from time to time, growing stronger and more confident as he went undetected.

However, one fateful day, the shepherd decided to choose a sheep for slaughter to provide meat for his family. As fate would have it, he unknowingly picked the wolf in sheep's clothing. The shepherd dragged the disguised wolf away from the flock, and as he raised his knife, the wolf's true identity was revealed.

In the end, the cunning wolf's deceptive plan led to his own demise.

Once upon a time, in a big, green forest, there lived a wolf. This wolf was always looking for food but found it hard because the other animals stayed away from him. They knew he was not kind and kept their distance.

One day, the wolf found a dead sheep. He got a smart idea. He took the sheep's skin and wore it like a coat. He thought this would help him look like a sheep and join them without them knowing.

The next day, he went to a field where many sheep were eating grass. They did not know the wolf was with them because he looked just like them in his sheep coat. He stayed close to them, waiting for the right time.

For some days, the wolf lived with the sheep. He ate some of them when he got the chance. He was happy because no one knew he was a wolf.

But one day, the man who looks after the sheep wanted to pick one sheep to take home. By chance, he picked the wolf, thinking he was a sheep. When he was about to take the wolf, he saw who the wolf really was.

So, the wolf's plan to trick everyone ended up getting him in big trouble.

Once upon a time, there was a sly wolf who was always looking for an easy way to fill his belly. The other animals in the forest were always careful around him because they knew he was up to no good. They always kept their distance to stay safe.

One sunny day, the wolf found a sheep that had sadly passed away on its own. Suddenly, he had a smart but sneaky idea. He thought, "Why not dress up as the sheep?" So, he carefully took the sheep's skin and wore it, thinking this clever trick would let him sneak up on the other sheep.

The very next day, he quietly mixed in with a group of sheep eating grass in a beautiful field. The sheep didn't notice the danger hiding among them because the wolf looked just like one of them. He got close to them, waiting for the right moment.

For some time, the wolf lived quietly with the sheep, pretending to be their friend. Every now and then, he would secretly catch one for his dinner. He became bolder and stronger because no one suspected him.

But, his luck changed when the shepherd needed to pick a sheep for his family's meal. Without knowing, the shepherd chose the wolf disguised as a sheep. The wolf was taken away from the rest, and just as the shepherd was about to do what he needed, the wolf's real face was discovered.

In the end, the wolf's tricky plan caused his own downfall.

Once upon a time, in a forest that was like a huge playground for animals, there was a wolf who thought he was super smart. Yup, smarter than a game of hide-and-seek. But the other animals in the forest were no dummies. They kept away from the wolf like you'd avoid eating mud pies.

"Hey friends! Who wants a wolf hug?" the wolf would call out, trying to be friendly.

"No way, not today!" said a rabbit, hopping away faster than a jumping bean.

Then, one special day, the wolf found a sheep that had, well, gone to sleep forever. And he had a super-duper idea.

"A-ha! A sheep disguise, perfecto!" said the wolf, giggling like he had just heard the funniest joke ever.

So, the wolf put on the sheep's wool like a cozy sweater. "Look at me! I'm sheep-tacular!"

The next day, he walked right into a group of sheep munching on grass. "Hi everyone! Great day to eat some yummy grass, huh?"

The sheep were too busy eating to notice anything weird. "Um, sure. Yummy grass, you bet!"

For a while, the wolf was having a blast. Just picture it—a wolf dancing around like he's at a birthday party, but with sheep! Every so often, he'd snack on a sheep. "Do you have any last words? Like 'baa?' Get it?"

The wolf thought he was the funniest guy around. The sheep? Not laughing.

Days went by, and the wolf felt like he was the king of tricks. But then, one really, really important day, the shepherd decided it was time for dinner. And not just any dinner—a special sheep dinner.

"Let's see, you'll do!" said the shepherd, grabbing the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing.

The wolf suddenly thought, "Uh-oh! This is not good!"

Just as the shepherd lifted his knife, he jumped back. "Whoa, you're not a sheep! You're a wolf! I was about to make wolf stew, and that's not even on my recipe list!"

And so, the wolf's big, clever plan ended up being his biggest goof-up. He was taken far away from the sheep and left to think about how his trick had turned into his biggest mistake.

Wolfie was cunning, sly, and smart,
With little tricks tucked in his heart.
He schemed to find an easy snack,
But forest friends, they had a knack.

A sheep had passed, its days complete,
Wolfie thought, "Now, that's a treat!"
He wore its wool from head to feet,
"To mix with sheep would be so sweet!"

Off to the meadow, lush and green,
Wolfie walked, but stayed unseen.
His woolly look was quite the show,
So close, he felt their soft wool grow.

He nibbled quietly, here and there,
Grew strong and bold, without a care.
The flock was fooled, or so it seemed,
He thought his plan was finely schemed.

Till shepherd came, one sunny day,
To pick a sheep to lead away.
He grabbed the wolf, his ruse fell flat,
Oh, what do you think about that?

The truth came out, as truth will do,
His sneaky plans were all askew.
In end, you see, deceit's no fun,
For lies and tricks will come undone.

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Word Finder

  1. Forest

    A large area with many trees.

  2. Wolf

    A wild animal like a big dog.

  3. Distance

    Space between two things or people.

  4. Sheep

    A farm animal with wool, not a dog or cat.

  5. Skin

    The outer layer of a person or animal.

  6. Coat

    Something you wear to cover your body.

  7. Field

    A big, open area of land with grass.

  8. Plan

    A set of ideas on what to do or how to do something.

  9. Chance

    An opportunity for something to happen.

  10. Trick

    To make someone believe something that is not true.

  1. Sly

    Very clever in a dishonest way.

  2. Belly

    The stomach part of your body.

  3. Sneaky

    Doing things secretly to trick others.

  4. Clever

    Being very smart or creative.

  5. Disguised

    Changed appearance to hide identity.

  6. Mixed

    Joined others to become part of a group.

  7. Suspected

    Thought to be responsible for something bad.

  8. Bolder

    Becoming more confident and less afraid.

  9. Downfall

    A sudden fall from power or success.

  10. Shepherd

    Someone who takes care of sheep.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where did the wolf live?

    1. In a small city
    2. In a big, green forest
    3. In a desert
    4. On a farm
  2. What did the wolf find one day?

    1. A dead bird
    2. A dead sheep
    3. A magic wand
    4. A golden key
  3. Why did the wolf wear the sheep's skin?

    1. To stay warm.
    2. To look like a sheep.
    3. To play a game.
    4. To decorate his home.
  4. How did the wolf manage to stay with the sheep at first?

    1. By singing to them.
    2. By making them laugh.
    3. By looking like them.
    4. By giving them food.
  5. How did the wolf's plan end?

    1. He became the leader of the sheep.
    2. He got in big trouble.
    3. He made friends with the sheep.
    4. He went back to the forest alone.
  1. Why did the other animals in the forest keep their distance from the wolf?
  2. Why did the wolf decide to dress up as a sheep?
  3. How did the wolf manage to live among the sheep without being noticed?
  4. What did the wolf do while living among the sheep?
  5. How did the wolf's plan affect him in the end?
  1. What led the wolf to adopt the disguise of a sheep, and how did he initially benefit from this strategy?
  2. Describe the measures the wolf took to ensure his integration into the flock of sheep was successful.
  3. How did the other sheep respond to the wolf's presence in their midst, and what does this suggest about their perception?
  4. What unforeseen consequence did the wolf face as a result of his disguise, and how did this lead to his ultimate fate?
  5. How does the story illustrate the theme that deceitful intentions can eventually lead to one's downfall?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the wolf decided to disguise himself as a sheep?
  2. How did the wolf's behavior change when he was among the sheep, and why was he able to trick them?
  3. What was the outcome for the wolf when the shepherd chose him? How do you think the wolf might have felt when he was discovered?
  4. What can this story teach us about honesty, deception, and the potential consequences of being dishonest?
  5. Can you think of a situation where telling the truth would be better than pretending to be something or someone else, even if the truth might be difficult?

Fable Quotes

Liars often set their own traps.
Deceptive actions sow seeds of consequences, eventually reaping the harvest of one's own downfall.
Deception, a wolf in sheep's clothing, reveals its true nature when justice unveils the hidden truth.
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