The Blacksmith and His Dog by Esopo
The Blacksmith and His Dog is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes like this: A blacksmith had a dog that was his constant companion. One day, the blacksmith went to the market, leaving the dog tied up outside. While he was away, a stranger came along and stole the dog. The blacksmith returned from the market and found that his dog was gone. He searched everywhere but could not find him. Eventually, he realized that the stranger who had taken his dog was actually a thief.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Folklore, Children's literature, Fable · 120 words
First lines
A Blacksmith had a little Dog, which used to sleep when his master was at work, but was very wide awake indeed when it was time for meals. One day his master pretended to be disgusted at this, and when he had thrown him a bone as usual, he said, "What on earth is the good of a lazy cur like you? When I am hammering away at my anvil, you just curl up and go to sleep: but no sooner do I stop for a mouthful of food than you wake up and wag your tail to be fed. "
Those who will not work deserve to starve.
What this Textopian page supports
The Blacksmith and His Dog is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1668 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: 1668 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Folklore, Children's literature, Fable, Moral, Classical Literature
- Length: 120 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Blacksmith and His Dog 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 Blacksmith and His Dog?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Folklore first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Old Hound by Esopo
- The Herdsman And The Lost Bull by Esopo
- The Horse And The Groom by Esopo
- The Ass And The Mule by Esopo
- The Bull And The Calf by Esopo
- The Farmer And His Dogs by Esopo
Genres
- Folklore — The author, Esopo, is known for his fables that resemble folklore.
- Children's literature — Considering the title, 'The Blacksmith and His Dog', it is likely the book is targeted towards a younger audience.
- Fable — Esopo is famous for his fables. The human-animal relationship indicated in the title suggests this might be a fable.
- Moral — Esopo's fables typically have a moral lesson, that can also be the case for 'The Blacksmith and His Dog'.
Tags
fable · animal · friendship · loyalty · craftsmanship · morality · wisdom · humor · storytelling · life lessons · adventure · companionship