# The Lambikin explained — Indian Fairy Tales

> Chapter companion for Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

## What happens

A tiny lambikin sets off to visit his granny, promising predators he will return fatter. After gorging himself for seven days, he hides inside a drum made from his brother's skin to avoid being eaten. He tricks several animals, but the clever jackal recognizes his voice and devours him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cunning and Wisdom

Lambikin uses clever promises and a disguise to evade predators, but the jackal's sharper cunning ultimately prevails.

### Greed and Its Consequences

Lambikin's greed for food and his overconfidence in his trickery lead to his downfall when the jackal outsmarts him.

## Character check-ins

### Lambikin

The cunning little lamb who outwits predators by promising to grow fatter, then hides in a drum to escape.

### Granny

Lambikin's grandmother who feeds him and makes the drumikin from his brother's skin.

### The Jackal

The first predator to meet Lambikin and the only one who sees through the drumikin disguise.

## Key lines

> To Granny’s house I go, Where I shall fatter grow, Then you can eat me so.

Lambikin promises predators that he will return from his grandmother's house plumper, so they should wait to eat him.

_This repeated rhyme shows Lambikin's clever strategy to delay being eaten._

> Fallen into the fire, and so will you On little Drumikin. Tum-pa, tum-too!

Lambikin, hidden inside the drum, tells each animal that the lamb has perished in a fire, warning them they will meet the same fate.

_This trick allows Lambikin to pass safely until the jackal recognizes his voice._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/the-lambikin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters