The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion
The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: An ass, a cock, and a lion were arguing over who was the bravest of them all. The ass claimed he was, because he could carry heavy loads without any trouble. The cock argued that he was, because he could crow loudly and scare away any predators. The lion, feeling proud of his majesty, boasted that he was the bravest of all, as he was the king of beasts. The three animals then decided to put their courage to the test by going into a den of wild beasts. The ass, being the smallest and weakest, ran away first. The cock, seeing this, flew away next. Finally, the lion, feeling proud and powerful, charged into the den last. As soon as the lion entered, the beasts attacked him and tore him to pieces. The moral of the story is that bravery is not just about size or strength, but also about being smart and wise in one's actions.
By Esopo · First published 1602 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 169 words
First lines
An Ass and a Cock were in a cattle-pen together. Presently a Lion, who had been starving for days, came along and was just about to fall upon the Ass and make a meal of him when the Cock, rising to his full height and flapping his wings vigorously, uttered a tremendous crow. Now, if there is one thing that frightens a Lion, it is the crowing of a Cock: and this one had no sooner heard the noise than he fled. The Ass was mightily elated at this, and thought that, if the Lion couldn't face a Cock, he would be still less likely to stand up to an Ass: so he ran out and pursued him. But when the two had got well out of sight and hearing of the Cock, the Lion suddenly turned upon the Ass and ate him up.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1602 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: 1602 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Folklore
- Length: 169 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion 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, the Cock, and the Lion?
- 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 Stag And The Lion by Esopo
- The Pack Ass The Wild Ass And The Lion by Esopo
- The Dog The Cock And The Fox by Esopo
- The Ass And The Mule by Esopo
- The Lion And The Boar by Esopo
- The Wolf And The Lion by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The book's title suggests that it is one of Esopo's classic tales, indicating that the characters are animals with human-like traits who learn moral lessons, classifying it as a fable.
- Children's Literature — Fables, especially those by Esopo, are commonly a part of children's literature due to their instructional and entertaining nature. The title suggests a simple story that teaches a moral lesson, often found in children's literature.
- Fantasy — Featuring animals as the main characters who can talk and possess human characteristics suggests elements of fantasy.
- Folklore — Esopo's works are renowned as traditional tales passed down through generations, making them fall under the genre of folklore.
Tags
fable · animal characters · morality · friendship · courage · betrayal · teamwork · wisdom · deception · loyalty · adventure · conflict