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Aesop's Fables · Chapter

The Dog and the Wolf explained

A Dog, threatened by a Wolf, convinces him to wait for a feast to fatten him up.

What happens

A Dog, threatened by a Wolf, convinces him to wait for a feast to fatten him up. When the Wolf returns, the Dog is safely out of reach and refuses to be tricked again, teaching the lesson 'once bitten, twice shy.'

Themes in this chapter

  • Cunning and Deception

    The Dog deceives the Wolf with a false promise to save his life.

  • Wisdom and Foolishness

    The Dog learns from his narrow escape, while the Wolf is foolish to trust his prey.

Characters to notice

  • The Dog

    Uses cunning to escape the Wolf, then learns from the experience to avoid future danger.

  • The Wolf

    Gullible and impatient, he is tricked by the Dog's promise and loses his chance for a meal.

Key passages

  • “Once bitten, twice shy.”

    A single bad experience teaches caution for the future.

    The moral of the fable, emphasizing learning from past mistakes.

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