The Wise Owl – An English Folk Tale about Justice and Kindness

Summary: This English folk tale tells the story of a wise owl who helped forest creatures resolve conflicts and live peacefully. Her kindness and fairness made the forest a safe and happy place for all. The owl taught that true strength lies in the ability to mediate and help one another.

In a dense forest, where trees stood tall like towers and the ground was covered with soft moss, there lived a wise owl. She made her home in an ancient oak at the center of a forest clearing. Her voice was deep and soothing, and her eyes shone like stars. Animals from all over the forest came to her for advice. She always helped them find fair solutions, earning respect and love from all—from mice to mighty deer.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, a breathless hare ran into the clearing. “Wise owl, help me!” he cried. “The fox claims my burrow is hers now. She says her home was destroyed and she will live in mine.”

The owl listened carefully. “Why does the fox want your burrow?” she asked. “She says her den was destroyed in the storm, and she doesn’t have time to build a new one,” replied the hare. The owl thought for a moment and said, “Bring the fox here. I want to hear her side of the story too.”

The fox came to the clearing, and the owl asked her, “Why do you want the hare’s burrow?” The fox sighed. “My den was destroyed, and I don’t have time to build a new one. I thought the hare could manage elsewhere in the forest, and I need shelter for my cubs.”

The owl pondered and then said, “Hare, could you help the fox build a new den? Together, you would finish much faster, and the fox could raise her cubs without harming you.” The hare hesitated at first but then agreed. The fox, surprised by the hare’s kindness, promised to protect him from other predators. From that day on, the hare and the fox became friends, and their families often helped each other.

This wasn’t the only dispute the owl had to resolve. One morning, at dawn, a sparrow and a dove flew to her, arguing loudly. They were fighting over who had the right to gather seeds from a field by the river. “I found this place first!” the sparrow shouted. “But I need food too!” the dove retorted angrily.

The owl raised a wing to quiet them. “Tell me, is there enough seed for both of you?” she asked. “Yes,” they admitted. “Then why argue?” said the owl. “If there’s enough, you can gather food faster by working together. The time you spend fighting would be better spent helping each other.” The birds realized their mistake and agreed to share the field fairly.

Over time, the owl’s wisdom became known throughout the forest. Her decisions were always fair, and the animals learned not only to seek her help but also to adopt her wisdom. The forest became a place where conflicts were resolved peacefully, and its inhabitants grew closer.

Moral of the Story: This English folk tale teaches us that the power of wisdom and kindness can resolve any conflict. Listening and finding fair solutions create peace and harmony.

Questions for Discussion:

• Why did the animals trust the owl so much?
• How did her advice help make the forest a more peaceful place?
• What lessons does this story teach about justice and kindness?