A Fable by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of unrequited love and its consequences on an individual's life. The narrator recounts a tale of a woman who fell deeply in love with a man, but he did not reciprocate her feelings. Despite this, she continued to love him, sacrificing her own happiness for his sake. As time passed, her love turned into bitter resentment, causing her to lose her beauty and vitality.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1886 · Genre: Fable, Poetry, Allegory · 548 words
First lines
Some cawing Crows, a hooting Owl, A Hawk, a Canary, an old Marsh-Fowl, One day all meet together To hold a caucus and settle the fate Of a certain bird (without a mate), A bird of another feather.
"My friends," said the Owl, with a look most wise, "The Eagle is soaring too near the skies, In a way that is quite improper; Yet the world is praising her, so I'm told, And I think her actions have grown so bold That some of us ought to stop her."
What this Textopian page supports
A Fable is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1886 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1886 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Poetry, Allegory, Satire, Philosophical
- Length: 548 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Fable by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- 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 A Fable?
- How does this poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Little Song by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- If by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Couleur De Rose by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Through Dim Eyes by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Endymion by Oscar Wilde
- In The Blue Heaven The Red Flower And Golden Stars by Henry Van Dyke
Genres
- Fable — The narrative uses animals to convey a moral lesson, characteristic of fables.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter.
- Allegory — The story uses symbolic figures and actions to express broader truths about human nature and society.
- Satire — The text critiques and mocks societal behaviors and attitudes through the actions and dialogue of the animals.
Tags
Philosophical · Poetic · Allegorical · Moralistic · Symbolic · Fantastical · Whimsical · Romantic · Idealistic · Uplifting · Inspirational · Motivational