Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 12: The Ass in the Lion's Skin

by Jean de La Fontaine

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle


An Ass in The Lion's skin arrayed

Made everybody fear.

And this was queer,

Because he was himself afraid.

Yet everywhere he strayed

The people ran like deer.

Ah, ah! He is betrayed:

No lion has that long and hairy ears.



Old Martin spied the tip; and country folk

Who are not in the secret of the joke,

With open mouths and eyes

Stare at old Martin's prize-

A Lion led to mill, with neck in yoke.

story image

    Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 12: The Ass in the Lion's Skin

by Jean de La Fontaine

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the poem.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

A donkey dresses in a lion's skin, scaring others. A man spots his ears, realizes he is a donkey, and leads him about.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

  • Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem. Instructors may need to prompt children line-by-line.

Activity 2: Study the Poem's Pictures

  • Study the pictures and describe them in your own words.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

  • After reading or listening to the poem, narrate the poem events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 15 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 5: Create Novel Artwork Based on the Poem

  • One day this week, create artwork that includes a mask.
  • Use paints, crayons, pastels, Legos, blocks, or Play-Doh to create the artwork.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?
1 / 5

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'The Ass in the Lion's Skin.'
1 / 5

Question 2

What happens in the poem?
2 / 5

Answer 2

A donkey dresses in a lion's skin, scaring others. A man spots his ears, realizes he is a donkey, and leads him about.
2 / 5

Question 3

Where does the poem take place?
3 / 5

Answer 3

The poem takes place outside.
3 / 5

Question 4

Who are the characters in the poem?
4 / 5

Answer 4

A donkey and a man.
4 / 5

Question 5

Does the poem teach us anything?
5 / 5

Answer 5

Not to trust to appearances.
5 / 5

  1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'The Ass in the Lion's Skin.'
  2. What happens in the poem? A donkey dresses in a lion's skin, scaring others. A man spots his ears, realizes he is a donkey, and leads him about.
  3. Where does the poem take place? The poem takes place outside.
  4. Who are the characters in the poem? A donkey and a man.
  5. Does the poem teach us anything? Not to trust to appearances.