The Ass and the Lapdog by Esopo
The Ass and the Lapdog is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: A donkey once saw a lapdog lying in the sun and said, "If I were small like you, I could lie in the sun and enjoy it." The lapdog replied, "It's not the size of the dog that matters, but the size of the gratitude."
By Esopo · First published 1642 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Moral Tale · 301 words
First lines
There was once a man who had an Ass and a Lapdog. The Ass was housed in the stable with plenty of oats and hay to eat and was as well off as an ass could be. The little Dog was made a great pet of by his master, who fondled him and often let him lie in his lap; and if he went out to dinner, he would bring back a titbit or two to give him when he ran to meet him on his return. The Ass had, it is true, a good deal of work to do, carting or grinding the corn, or carrying the burdens of the farm: and ere long he became very jealous, contrasting his own life of labour with the ease and idleness of the Lapdog. At last one day he broke his halter, and frisking into the house just as his master sat down to dinner, he pranced and capered about, mimicking the frolics of the little favourite, upsetting the table and smashing the crockery with his clumsy efforts. Not content with that, he even tried to jump on his master's lap, as he had so often seen the dog allowed to do.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ass and the Lapdog is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1642 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Esopo
- Date: 1642 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Moral Tale, Animals - Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 301 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ass and the Lapdog by Esopo
- 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 Lapdog?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Lion And The Ass by Esopo
- The Man And His Two Sweethearts by Esopo
- The Stag In The Ox Stall by Esopo
- The Parrot And The Cat by Esopo
- The Quack Frog by Esopo
- The Ass Carrying The Image by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Esopo is a known writer of fables, and 'The Ass and the Lapdog' is one of his classic stories displaying human virtues and vices through animal characters.
- Children's Literature — The book contains moral lessons and straightforward narratives that make it suitable and educational for children.
- Moral Tale — The plot centers around delivering morality lessons pertinent to everyday human life offered through the interactions of animal characters.
- Animals - Fiction — The main characters are animals which are used to explore human characteristics and social situations.
Tags
fable · morality · animal characters · humor · friendship · jealousy · social commentary · wisdom · cautionary tale · human nature · loyalty · pride