The Owl and the Hare

"The Owl and the Hare" by Leo Tolstoy is a fable that explores themes of wisdom, folly, and the consequences of one's choices. In this short story, the owl represents wisdom and caution, while the hare embodies impulsiveness and naivety. Through their interaction, Tolstoy conveys moral lessons about the importance of understanding one's limitations and the value of heeding wise advice. As with many of Tolstoy's works, the narrative is rich with philosophical insights and reflections on human nature.

								
It was dusk. The owls began to fly through the forest to find some prey.

A large hare leaped out on a clearing and began to smooth out his fur.
An old owl looked at the hare, and seated himself on a branch; but a
young owl said to him:

"Why do you not catch the hare?"

The old owl said:

"He is too much for me: if I get caught in him, he will drag me into the
woods."

But the young owl said:

"I will stick one claw into his body, and with the other I will clutch a
tree."

The young owl made for the hare, and stuck one claw into his back so
that all his talons entered the flesh, and the other claw it got ready
to push into the tree. The hare yanked the owl, while the owl held on to
the tree, and thought, "He will not get away." The hare darted forward
and tore the owl. One claw was left in the tree, and the other in the
hare's back.

The next year a hunter killed that hare, and wondered how the owl's
talons had grown into the hare's back.
								Rate this book:0.0 / 0 votes