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Aesop's Fables · Chapter

The Wolf and the Crane explained

A Wolf with a bone stuck in his throat persuades a Crane to extract it by promising a reward.

What happens

A Wolf with a bone stuck in his throat persuades a Crane to extract it by promising a reward. After the Crane successfully removes the bone, the Wolf reneges on the payment, claiming that the Crane should be satisfied merely with having escaped unharmed from a Wolf's mouth.

Themes in this chapter

  • Cunning and Deception

    The Wolf uses a false promise to manipulate the Crane into performing a dangerous task, then twists the situation to avoid payment.

  • Justice and Consequence

    The Crane's trust is exploited, and no justice is served—the Wolf faces no repercussions for his deceit.

Characters to notice

  • The Wolf

    Deceives the Crane with a false promise of reward, then threatens her when she asks for payment.

  • The Crane

    Naively helps the Wolf by extracting the bone, but is denied the promised fee.

Key passages

  • “I’ll make it worth your while”

    I will reward you for your help.

    The Wolf's false promise to secure the Crane's assistance.

  • “you can go about boasting that you once put your head into a Wolf’s mouth and didn’t get it bitten off. What more do you want?”

    You should be grateful that you escaped alive; that is your reward.

    The Wolf's threatening dismissal of the Crane's rightful claim for payment.

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