The Fisherman and the Sprat by Esopo
The Fisherman and the Sprat is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: A fisherman once caught a sprat and was about to eat it when he let it go, thinking it would be more satisfying to catch something bigger. However, the sprat then swam away and was caught by another fisherman who ate it. The first fisherman realized that he had missed an opportunity to feed himself a meal because he was too eager to catch something bigger. The moral of the story is that sometimes the best things in life are right in front of us, and we should be content with what we have rather than always striving for more.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's literature, Short story · 110 words
First lines
A Fisherman cast his net into the sea, and when he drew it up again it contained nothing but a single Sprat that begged to be put back into the water. "I'm only a little fish now," it said, "but I shall grow big one day, and then if you come and catch me again I shall be of some use to you. " But the Fisherman replied, "Oh, no, I shall keep you now I've got you: if I put you back, should I ever see you again? Not likely! "
What this Textopian page supports
The Fisherman and the Sprat 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, Short story, Fiction
- Length: 110 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Fisherman and the Sprat by Esopo
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Fisherman and the Sprat?
- 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 Quack Frog by Esopo
- The Mule by Esopo
- The Fisherman Piping by Esopo
- The Swollen Fox by Esopo
- The Goatherd And The Goat by Esopo
- The Ass And His Shadow by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Considering Esopo's body of work, it is clear that his stories mostly fall within the fable genre where they contain moral teachings. 'The Fisherman and the Sprat' is likely no different, featuring anthropomorphized animals and moral lessons.
- Children's literature — Esopo's fables are often written for children with simple language, engaging narrative and clear moral lessons taught through the narrative of 'The Fisherman and the Sprat'.
- Short story — The structure and length of 'The Fisherman and the Sprat' fit the short story genre. This type of literature is characterized by its brevity and succinct narratives.
- Fiction — 'The Fisherman and the Sprat' tells a story that is not based on real events or characters, making it a work of fiction.
Tags
fable · morality · greed · wisdom · fisherman · sprat · nature · animals · storytelling · consequences · life lessons · deception