The Ass in the Lion's Skin by Esopo
A man dons a lion's skin and roars loudly to intimidate others. He demands food from travelers, who are frightened by his appearance. However, when he encounters a real lion, he runs away in fear. The moral is that one should not pretend to be something they're not, as it can lead to embarrassment or even danger. The story highlights the consequences of deception and the importance of being honest about one's true nature. It also touches on the theme of identity and how appearances can be deceiving.
By Esopo · First published 1667 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Classics · 114 words
First lines
An Ass found a Lion's Skin, and dressed himself up in it. Then he went about frightening everyone he met, for they all took him to be a lion, men and beasts alike, and took to their heels when they saw him coming. Elated by the success of his trick, he loudly brayed in triumph. The Fox heard him, and recognised him at once for the Ass he was, and said to him, "Oho, my friend, it's you, is it? I, too, should have been afraid if I hadn't heard your voice. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Ass in the Lion's Skin is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1667 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: 1667 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Classics, Folklore
- Length: 114 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ass in the Lion's Skin 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 in the Lion's Skin?
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Similar titles
- The Vain Jackdaw by Esopo
- The Crow And The Swan by Esopo
- The Monkey And The Camel by Esopo
- The Fox Without A Tail by Esopo
- The Peacock And Juno by Esopo
- The Jackdaw And The Pigeons by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Esopo is well-known for creating fables, and considering the title, 'The Ass in the Lion's Skin', it is safe to assume it follows the common structure of a fable where animals are anthropomorphized to tell moral lessons.
- Children's Literature — Due to the nature of fables, they are often used as educational stories for children and are thus categorized under children's literature as well.
- Classics — Being written by Esopo, an ancient Greek author known for his timeless fables, this book would fall under the genre of Classics.
- Folklore — As a fable, it also fits into the folklore genre as it is a traditional tale passed down from generation to generation.
Tags
fable · morality · deception · identity · courage · humor · animals · wisdom · caution · appearance vs reality · self-awareness · social commentary