The Lion and the Gnat: Aesop’s Fable

Introduction

This is an interesting story of a lion and a gnat. The gnat was proud that he wounded the lion even if he is the king of the jungle. What did he do to the lion? Who made the gnat regret his pride? What is the end of this story? Find out by reading this fable.

The Gnat and the Lion

The lion was resting on a cold rock under the shade of a tree. He had a good meal and was resting the tiredness away. The day was hot.

Out of nowhere, a gnat appeared and started disturbing the lion. The lion did not pay attention at first. To make him annoyed, the gnat started to buzz around his ears and nose.

The gnat finally caught the attention of the lion. He said, “You might be the king but I am no less than you. I can wound you and you will not be able to do anything to me.”

The lion roared, “Look, you insolent gnat, I have not done anything to you. Why are you disturbing me?”

The Lion Stung by the Gnat

The Gnat’s Pride

The gnat did not pay attention to what the lion said and kept on disturbing him. The lion used his paws to get rid of the gnat but all efforts went in vain.

He missed every time he tried to catch the gnat. The gnat was happy and felt proud to disturb the king of the jungle. He then decided to sting the lion.

To the lion’s surprise, the gnat stung him in his nose. He was in utter pain and tried even harder with his claws to get hold of the gnat. Eventually, he landed all the blows on his face and body. His blows battered him.

The lion was tired from his injury. He gave up and rested on the rock. The gnat boastfully said, “Yes. The mighty lion has felt my power” and left with pride.

The Result of False Pride

The gnat was filled with pride. He was going to tell his feat to all the animals in the jungle. He was not alert.

Suddenly, he felt a string attached to his wings. He saw that he was caught by a spider’s web spun between the branches.

He was so immersed in his pride that he forgot to be careful. The spider approached and killed the gnat.

The Spider Killed the Gnat

The gnat died due to his ignorance, false pride and lack of respect.

Moral of the Story

The Lion And The Gnat moral is false pride is never good. One should remain humble about his success and not boast of his achievements. In this story, the gnat was intentionally disturbing the lion and boasted his feat. It harmed the lion unnecessarily. He met his miserable end in the hands of a spider.

This story also explains that the least of enemies can impart the highest blow. A gnat is the least of the lion’s worries but he managed to injure him easily. 

Tips for Parents

Understand The Gnat And The Lion summary and explain it to the kids. They will love the interesting characters and realise the morals hidden in this story. Show pictures of the gnat and lion and read the story. Asking questions will also reveal the comprehension skills of the children.