# The Wolf and the Crane explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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