# The Mouse and the Bull explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A Bull is tormented by a Mouse that bites him and escapes into a hole. Despite the Bull's fury and repeated charges, he cannot catch the Mouse, who ultimately taunts him, illustrating that size and strength do not guarantee victory.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wisdom and Foolishness

The Mouse's cleverness and patience overcome the Bull's brute strength and foolish rage.

### Perseverance and Effort

The Mouse's persistent biting and the Bull's relentless but futile charges highlight different forms of effort.

## Character check-ins

### The Mouse

Bites the Bull and cleverly evades capture, taunting the Bull from safety.

### The Bull

Charges the wall in rage but exhausts himself, unable to catch the Mouse.

## Key lines

> You big fellows don’t always have it your own way, you see: sometimes we little ones come off best.

The small and weak can triumph over the large and strong through wit and persistence.

_The Mouse's moral sums up the fable's lesson about the power of the underdog._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-mouse-and-the-bull
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters