The Fox and the Tiger
The Fox and the Tiger is a fable attributed to the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop. In this tale, a fox and a tiger are depicted as having a conversation about their respective strengths and weaknesses. The fox boasts of his cunning and quick thinking, while the tiger brags of his brawn and power. Despite their differences, they both agree that the other is superior in some ways. The story is often used to illustrate the idea that different people have different strengths and weaknesses, and that no one person has all the qualities needed to succeed in life.
By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1920 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fable, Folklore · 468 words
First lines
(No. I.)
Said the tiger to the fox: "Let us run a race from the top of the world to the bottom of the world, and he who wins it shall be lord of the world!" The fox agreed, and off the tiger bounded, but without noticing that the fox had caught hold of his tail so as to get pulled along by him. Just as the tiger was about to reach the other end, he suddenly whisked round, in order to jeer at the fox, whom he believed to be far behind. But this motion exactly threw the fox safely on to the far end, so that he was able to call out to the astonished tiger: "Here I am. What are you so long about?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Fox and the Tiger is listed on Textopian as a fable by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fable, Folklore, Adventure
- Length: 468 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Fox and the Tiger by Basil Hall Chamberlain
- 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 Fox and the Tiger?
- How does this fable by Basil Hall Chamberlain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Coyote And The Beetle by Frank Hamilton Cushing
- The Parrot That Lost Its Tail by Horacio Quiroga
- The Fox And The Crow by Parker Fillmore
- Brer Rabbit Yous De Cutes Of Em All by James Weldon Johnson
- The Bear Story That Alex Ist Maked Up His Own Sef by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Two Foxes The Mole And The Crows by Basil Hall Chamberlain
Genres
- Children's Literature — The book is primarily read and recommended for children due to its moral teachings and simple storytelling.
- Fable — The story features animals as characters and aims to teach a moral lesson, making it a fable.
- Folklore — The narrative is based on a classic animal tale from ancient Eastern tradition, marking it as folklore.
- Adventure — The story follows the adventures of a fox and tiger, thus can be categorized under the adventure genre.
Tags
Fable · Animal Story · Moral Allegory · Japanese Literature · Classic Children's Book · Wisdom · Inspiration · Narrative Poem · Folklore · Eastern Culture · Mythology · Fables
More by Basil Hall Chamberlain
- The Fisher-boy Urashima (1886)
- The Invention of a New Religion (1930)
- The Rat and the Owl (1899)
- The Loves of the Thunder-Gods (1906)
- Why the Cock Cannot Fly (1902)
- The Origin of the Hare (1902)
- The Reason for there being no Fixed Time for Human Beings to (1928)
- How a Man Got the Better of Two Foxes (1899)
- All works by Basil Hall Chamberlain