The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A WOLF found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs. But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose

skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so, leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.

Appearances are deceptive.

From The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Aesop, translated by Joseph Jacobs (1894). Public domain.

Check your understanding

1. What initially prevents the wolf from successfully hunting the sheep?

The lack of sheep in the surrounding area.The vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs.The wolf's lack of hunting experience.The sheep's natural physical defenses.

2. What is the structural function of the final sentence, 'Appearances are deceptive'?

It introduces a new conflict for the reader to ponder.It provides an explicit moral summary of the preceding narrative.It describes the physical setting of the pasture.It offers a counterargument to the wolf's deceptive actions.

3. How does the author's use of pacing and brevity contribute to the impact of the narrative?

4. The passage concludes with the moral 'Appearances are deceptive.' Argue how the specific detail of the Lamb following the Wolf strengthens this theme.

5. Evaluate the author's decision to include the detail that the sheep's skin had been 'flayed and thrown aside.' How does this detail establish the tone before the wolf even acts?