The Crow and the Swan by Esopo
The Crow and the Swan is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: A crow, eager to possess a delicious piece of meat, asked a swan to lend it for a moment. The swan, not wanting to part with its beauty, refused. The crow, in a fit of anger, pecked at the swan's wings until they were broken. The swan, now unable to fly, was left at the mercy of the crow. The moral of the story is that greed and anger can lead to regret and loss.
By Esopo · First published 1602 · Genre: Fable, Fairy Tale, Anthropomorphism · 110 words
First lines
A Crow was filled with envy on seeing the beautiful white plumage of a Swan, and thought it was due to the water in which the Swan constantly bathed and swam. So he left the neighbourhood of the altars, where he got his living by picking up bits of the meat offered in sacrifice, and went and lived among the pools and streams. But though he bathed and washed his feathers many times a day, he didn't make them any whiter, and at last died of hunger into the bargain.
You may change your habits, but not your nature.
What this Textopian page supports
The Crow and the Swan 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, Fairy Tale, Anthropomorphism, Children's Literature, Classics
- Length: 110 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Crow and the Swan by Esopo
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Discussion starters
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- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- The Bat And The Weasels by Esopo
- The Peacock And Juno by Esopo
- The Wily Lion by Esopo
- The Eagle The Cat And The Wild Sow by Esopo
- The Crow And The Raven by Esopo
- The Ass In The Lions Skin by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — A narrative featuring anthropomorphic animals with moral lessons, attributed to Esopo, a known fabulist.
- Fairy Tale — The book portrays fantastical events in a timeless, unrealistic setting.
- Anthropomorphism — The book attributes human traits, emotions, and intentions to non-human entities, specifically animals.
- Children's Literature — The book has simple language, morality lessons and animal characters, all of which are commonly seen in children's literature.
Tags
fable · morality · animals · wisdom · deception · nature · friendship · envy · pride · beauty · transformation · lesson