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Aesop's Fables · Chapter

The Lion and the Mouse explained

A Lion is woken by a Mouse and spares its life after the Mouse promises to repay the kindness.

What happens

A Lion is woken by a Mouse and spares its life after the Mouse promises to repay the kindness. Later, the Lion is trapped in a hunter's net, and the Mouse gnaws through the ropes to free him, proving that even the smallest creature can help the mightiest.

Themes in this chapter

  • Perseverance and Effort

    The Mouse's persistent gnawing frees the Lion, showing that small efforts can yield great results.

  • Human Nature and Vice

    The Lion's initial scorn and the Mouse's humble plea highlight themes of pride and unexpected reciprocity.

Characters to notice

  • The Lion

    Spares the Mouse's life after being amused by its promise, later gets trapped in a net.

  • The Mouse

    Accidentally wakes the Lion, begs for mercy, and later frees the Lion from a net.

Key passages

  • “Please let me go,” it cried, “and one day I will repay you for your kindness.””

    The Mouse begged the Lion to release it, promising to return the favor someday.

    The Mouse's plea for mercy and vow of future repayment.

  • “There!” said the Mouse, “you laughed at me when I promised I would repay you: but now you see, even a Mouse can help a Lion.””

    The Mouse reminded the Lion that even the smallest creature can aid the greatest, fulfilling its promise.

    The moral of the fable: no act of kindness is too small to be repaid.

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