The Ass and the Grasshoppers
The story follows an ass who, tired of being ridiculed for his laziness, decides to work hard and gather grass for the winter. However, he soon realizes that the grasshoppers, who are also his friends, have stolen all the grass he had gathered. The ass is left with nothing and must face the consequences of his own laziness.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1890 · Genre: Fable, Humor, Satire · 53 words
First lines
A Statesman heard some Labourers singing at their work, and wishing to be happy too, asked them what made them so.
"Honesty," replied the Labourers.
So the Statesman resolved that he too would be honest, and the result was that he died of want.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ass and the Grasshoppers is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Humor, Satire, Short Story, Children's Literature
- Length: 53 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ass and the Grasshoppers by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Ass and the Grasshoppers?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Sick Pike by Frank R. Stockton
- The Wolf And The Goat by Esopo
- The Crow And The Snake by Esopo
- The Monkey As King by Esopo
- The She Goats And Their Beards by Esopo
- The Ass Carrying The Image by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The title indicates the story is a fable, providing moral lessons using animals as main characters.
- Humor — Ambrose Bierce is known for his humorous and satirical writing style.
- Satire — The title suggests a satirical take, a common style in Ambrose Bierce's works.
- Short Story — Most of Bierce's works are short stories, the title suggests it could be a short narrative.
Tags
fable · allegory · satire · humor · animal characters · moral lesson · society · critique · grasshoppers · ass · folklore · narrative