English KS1/KS2: Aesop's Fables - 20. The Lion and the Elephant
Synopsis
A lion is awoken each morning by the crowing of a cockerel. The lion comes to be afraid of the noise of the cock’s crow, and is ashamed of himself for this, given that he is so big.
The lion canvasses opinion amongst other animals, but none confess to being afraid of the cock’s crow. However, the elephant does admit to being afraid of a small insect – it fears that it will be done for if the insect flies inside its ears. For this reason, the elephant is constantly shaking its head around.
The lion finds it hard to believe that such a large animal should be afraid of such a small one, and thereby realises its own fear is irrational.