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[Home Sweet Home: A Lesson in Wit and Wisdom]-[Home Sweet Home]

Circle Round · B1 · 2024-07-02

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

The Power of Cunning Over Might

The podcast episode "Home Sweet Home," presented by Rebecca Sheer of Circle Around, explores an ancient African proverb: "Even the lion, the king of the forest, protects himself against flies." This narrative serves as a poignant reminder that physical strength is not the only form of power; indeed, intelligence and wit can often overcome brute force. The story centers on an unlikely partnership between the fierce, intimidating Leopard and a clever, small rabbit known as Hare.

A Fragile Alliance

Leopard, known for her "growling, snarling, and hissing," terrorizes the smaller animals of the savanna. However, when she encounters Hare, the rabbit uses his "cunning and cleverness" to manipulate the situation. Recognizing that Leopard’s ears are incredibly sensitive—reportedly five times better than human hearing—Hare convinces her to build a house together. By framing the project as a necessity for comfort against the harsh environment, Hare secures a home for himself and his family. The arrangement is built on a tenuous agreement: they will share the house, but Leopard must resist her predatory instincts, or as Hare puts it, she must not "ruffle his feathers" or "get his goat."

The Psychological Warfare

Conflict arises when Hare’s family grows, and the noise of the baby bunnies becomes unbearable for Leopard. As she contemplates eating the family, Hare and his wife devise a brilliant psychological strategy. They instruct their children to cry loudly while discussing their father's supposed hunting prowess. By fabricating stories about hunting "an elephant," "a lion," and "a cheetah," Hare creates a sense of terror in Leopard.

Leopard, fearing that the "scrawny little hare" is far more dangerous than he appears, flees the house. Even when she returns with the help of a Baboon, the couple doubles down on their ruse. They pretend to be eagerly anticipating a meal of "leopard meat," which sends the predator sprinting away in fear, never to return.

Conclusion: Teamwork and Resilience

The story concludes with Hare’s family eventually outgrowing their home and building a new one through their own collective effort. They decide to "roll up their sleeves" and "put their noses to the grindstone," relying on their own teamwork rather than the labor of others. This outcome reinforces the core theme of the episode: true strength lies in unity and the ability to outsmart those who rely solely on intimidation. Through this engaging performance at the Parkway Theatre, Circle Around effectively illustrates that the smallest creatures can indeed be the strongest, provided they possess the wit to navigate the challenges of the world.

🎯Key Sentences

1
That was a figure of speech.
2
Fair point.
3
I don't understand what you're trying to tell me.
4
On the contrary,
5
Can we maybe rewind and listen to that part again?
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📝Key Phrases

1
scare the pants off someone
2
quake in one's boots
3
hit the spot
4
tower over someone
5
roll up one's sleeves
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📖 Transcript

Hi, Rebecca Sheer here. Before we get to today's story, I invite you to circle around with us
in even more ways by joining the Circle Around Club. As a member, you'll get access to ad-free
Circle Around episodes and bonus bedtime stories, plus music education videos, first dives on tickets
to live events, and a welcome box with Circle Around goodies. You'll also get the opportunity to
connect with me and Eric Shimmelowness through activity emails and newsletters, not to mention
exclusive access to the Circle Around Club store, where you can add on extras like our stuffed
Or study on the web version →

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