The Lion And The Hare’ Story For Your Kids

Children are always fascinated with stories that they come across in standard literary works and folklore, because they are in a position to learn something important from such literature nuggets. Among them there is the story which is favourite all over the world – “The Lion and the Hare.” The wise hare defeated the great lion so the reader learns that intelligence is stronger than muscles. Now, let it be considered that it is high time to turn to this famous story and discuss its numerous renditions and interpretations.

Table of Content:

The Hare and the Lion Story
The Lion and the Hare Story in English
The Lion and the Hare Full Story
Practical Applications of the Story’s Lessons
References and Sources

The Hare and the Lion Story

In the story, in the midst of a green and fertile jungle, there lived a fierce lion, by the name of Leo. He was the king of the jungle, to which all animals gave their respect, running away from him whenever they set eyes on him. The sound which Leo made reverberating through the trees caused the heartbeats of even the toughest animals to shake.

One of the inhabitants of the forest was a small hare with the large quick eyes named Hoppy. Unlike the other animals, Hoppy was not happy to go on living in the constant terror of the lion. He thought that there has to be a way to ‘trick’ the big predator and restore order in the forest.

One fine day when Leo was as usual out looking for his prey, Hoppy felt it appropriate to implement his strategy. He came face to face with the lion with a lot of boldness coupled with a lot of care. “Oh, great king of the forest,” Hoppy called out, “I have news that might interest you!”

Leo, intrigued by the hare’s boldness, stopped in his tracks. “What news could a tiny creature like you possibly have for me?” he growled.

Hoppy, undeterred, replied, “There’s another lion in the forest who claims to be stronger than you. He’s challenging your reign!”

The Lion and the Hare Story in English

As our story continues in English, we find Leo’s pride wounded by this unexpected challenge. “Impossible!” he roared. “Take me to this imposter at once!”

Hoppy, his plan working perfectly, led the lion through the forest. They walked for what seemed like hours, with Leo growing more impatient with each step. Finally, they arrived at a deep well.

“There he is, your majesty,” Hoppy said, pointing into the well. “The other lion is down there, waiting for you.”

Leo looked into the well and saw his own reflection reflected in the calm water which was in the well. He caught sight of his reflection in the lion skin and thought it to be another lion, roared. The echo bounced back, sounding like a challenge from below.

Furious, Leo jumped into the well to subdue the rival, but stayed in water unable to come out. In the beginning he fought helplessly for top position on the water and in doing so he made the worst discovery –the hare had cheated him.

heavily built Hoppy who was positioned at the side of the well shouted at the lion, “Your majesty, one doesn’t need muscles to be powerful.” Sometimes, it’s wisdom and quick thinking that win the day.”

The Lion and the Hare Full Story

To fully appreciate this tale, let’s explore its deeper meanings and the lessons it offers to young readers:

Brains over brawn: The story teaches children that intelligence and creativity can overcome physical strength. Hoppy’s clever plan proves more effective than Leo’s raw power.
The dangers of pride: Leo’s almost macho-like confidence is somewhat detrimental because he cannot even imagine that someone can trick him. This serves as an indication that one should not be quick to judge others, or simply be proud.
Problem-solving skills: All in all through the course of the story during interaction with other characters, Hoppy is able to demonstrate that more often than not, people should not use violence to resolve an issue.
Courage in the face of adversity: Even though it is a tiny character and is dominated by a lion, Hoppy gathers enough courage and faces the lion hence encouraging kids to also be brave no matter their sizes.
The power of quick thinking: In thinking out how to solve the problem on a short notice and come up with a brilliant idea of using Happy’s wooden leg, Hoppy teaches essential character lessons about adaptability and resourcefulness.

With this story, we can engage children in meaningful discussions as parents and educators on the message passed in the story. Try to talk to your children into recounting the situations which called for the usage of their minds in order to come up with a solution. Then inquire from them how they thought Hoppy could have handled the situation if they were in his shoes.

The story of the lion and the hare has in the past been developed with different variations and told by different cultures. In some versions, the hare lures the lion out into the forest, then deceives him with a story of a magic drum which, when beaten, will give the one beaten three wishes. In others the hare has the lion believe that the reflection of the moon in the pond is a wheel of cheese and in both the hare escapes the same fate.

What makes all of these cause-and-effect variations similar is that they are all based on a handful of different plots such as a smaller and less powerful animal defeating a larger and more powerful animal. This trove has paid by helping the story to go round the generations and beyond the cultures. When sharing this story with your children, consider the following activities to enhance their engagement and understanding:

Role-playing: Enact the story with your child so that the child can see as many different characters as possible, and understand why the characters are behaving in certain ways.
Drawing: It is very beneficial to make a drawing of the favorite scenes and make your children visualize the story and be creative.
Discussion questions: These questions consist of an ‘if’ clause, such as ‘If I were the hare’, that engages the children and that encourages discussion in response to questions like ‘How did the lion feel when he was tricked?
Problem-solving scenarios: Explain to your children similar cases wherein they have to outsmart an obstacle to nurture problem-solving skills.
Exploring different versions: To further analyze the story, read different versions of the story from different cultures and compare the details explaining why the moral is preserved even in different versions.

Practical Applications of the Story’s Lessons

And although ‘The Lion and the Hare’ is as sweet as a story can be, it takes a lot more than moral fables to teach the viewers. Let’s explore how children can apply these teachings in their daily lives:

Schoolyard conflicts: Teach kids to use their words and to be reasonable in front of the bully or when they are angry with their fellow kids.
Academic challenges: Make a point to the students that regardless of the subject or assignment none is easy to beat but with struggle and hard work and creativity like that of Hoppy, none is unbeatable.
Sibling rivalries: Use the story to illustrate how wit and compromise can resolve conflicts between brothers and sisters more effectively than fighting or tattling.
Sports and competitions: Mold the young athletes the fact that in many games, strategy and team work more than make up for a lack in muscular strength.
Facing fears: Assist children with making connections between Hoppy’s courage and their own courage in dealing with situations which are dreadful like speaking in public or participating in a new activity.

That is why by reading “The Lion and the Hare” in these ways, your children will not only learn useful morals but also will develop one’s imagination and analytical thinking.

In conclusion, it can be stated that ‘The Lion and the Hare is not only a story read to the child before going to bed. It is a story that has been passed from generation to generation for its ability to show children the usefulness of intelligence, the benefits of thinking as fast as possible, and the usefulness of courage in a fight. In exposing your kids to this story and subsequently relating it to them, you are imparting to them lessons in life all dressed up in fun and entertainment.

Thus, the next time you are searching for a story that your children would like to listen to because it is very colorful and interesting and at the same teaches them something, think about the hare and the lion. This story has been 23 years old and remains an excellent tool in developing creativity, courage and problem-solving skills of young people.

For more such interesting blogs, Visit EuroKids