The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox
A dog and a cock are friends who share their food with each other. A fox observes this and decides to join them. The fox pretends to be friendly and asks if he can join in sharing their food. The dog and the cock, trusting the fox, agree. The fox eats as much as he can and then leaves. The dog and the cock are left with nothing. They realize they have been deceived by the fox's cunning words. The story teaches that one should not trust strangers easily, especially those who seem too friendly or eager to gain something from others.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore · 158 words
First lines
A Dog and a Cock became great friends, and agreed to travel together. At nightfall the Cock flew up into the branches of a tree to roost, while the Dog curled himself up inside the trunk, which was hollow. At break of day the Cock woke up and crew, as usual. A Fox heard, and, wishing to make a breakfast of him, came and stood under the tree and begged him to come down. "I should so like," said he, "to make the acquaintance of one who has such a beautiful voice. " The Cock replied, "Would you just wake my porter who sleeps at the foot of the tree? He'll open the door and let you in. " The Fox accordingly rapped on the trunk, when out rushed the Dog and tore him in pieces.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox 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: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore, Adventure
- Length: 158 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox 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 Dog, the Cock, and the Fox?
- 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 Fox And The Snake by Esopo
- The Hound And The Fox by Esopo
- The Ass And The Wolf by Esopo
- The Lioness And The Vixen by Esopo
- The Ass The Cock And The Lion by Esopo
- The Farmer And The Fox by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The book, written by Esopo who is known for his fables, features animals as main characters acting in a moral tale.
- Children's Literature — The story is suitable for children with a clear moral lesson and simple plot structure.
- Folklore — As a fable, the story is in the genre of folklore, embodying a moral tale deeply rooted in tradition and culture.
- Adventure — The interactions and conflicts between the dog, the cock, and the fox suggest an underlying theme of adventure.
Tags
fable · animal characters · morality · deception · friendship · cunning · betrayal · wisdom · caution · survival · loyalty · trust