, AFL1501 ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 ANSWERS - DUE DATE: 30 AUGUST 2026
THE HARE AND THE LION:
A REFLECTION ON AFRICAN STORYTELLING, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Introduction
For this assessment, I chose the African folktale “The Hare and the Lion” because I find the
message of the story meaningful and relevant to African culture. African stories have always
had an important place in society because they were used to entertain people while also
teaching younger generations about life, behaviour and values. Before modern forms of
communication became common, stories were mainly passed from one generation to another
through oral storytelling. In this way, storytelling helped communities preserve their history,
beliefs and understanding of the world. The study unit explains that literature can reflect the
worldview of the people who produce and share it because stories often contain the values,
beliefs and experiences of a particular society (UNISA, 2026).
The story I selected is about a hare who encounters a lion. Although the lion is much stronger
physically, the hare is able to use his intelligence and quick thinking to protect himself. The
part of the story that I find most meaningful is where the hare uses his cleverness instead of
trying to challenge the lion through physical strength. I particularly like this part because it
shows me that a person does not have to be physically powerful to overcome a difficult
situation. Sometimes intelligence, patience and the ability to think carefully can be more
useful than strength. The story therefore gives me a different understanding of what it means
to be powerful.
Background and Source of the Story
“The Hare and the Lion” is an African folktale that forms part of a broader tradition of stories
in which animals are used to represent human behaviour. The version I have chosen is
associated with the East African storytelling tradition and appears in George Bateman's
THE HARE AND THE LION:
A REFLECTION ON AFRICAN STORYTELLING, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Introduction
For this assessment, I chose the African folktale “The Hare and the Lion” because I find the
message of the story meaningful and relevant to African culture. African stories have always
had an important place in society because they were used to entertain people while also
teaching younger generations about life, behaviour and values. Before modern forms of
communication became common, stories were mainly passed from one generation to another
through oral storytelling. In this way, storytelling helped communities preserve their history,
beliefs and understanding of the world. The study unit explains that literature can reflect the
worldview of the people who produce and share it because stories often contain the values,
beliefs and experiences of a particular society (UNISA, 2026).
The story I selected is about a hare who encounters a lion. Although the lion is much stronger
physically, the hare is able to use his intelligence and quick thinking to protect himself. The
part of the story that I find most meaningful is where the hare uses his cleverness instead of
trying to challenge the lion through physical strength. I particularly like this part because it
shows me that a person does not have to be physically powerful to overcome a difficult
situation. Sometimes intelligence, patience and the ability to think carefully can be more
useful than strength. The story therefore gives me a different understanding of what it means
to be powerful.
Background and Source of the Story
“The Hare and the Lion” is an African folktale that forms part of a broader tradition of stories
in which animals are used to represent human behaviour. The version I have chosen is
associated with the East African storytelling tradition and appears in George Bateman's
