The Flea and the Ox by Esopo (1668)
The Flea and the Ox is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: A flea once lived on the back of an ox. One day, the flea asked the ox if he could ride on his back forever. The ox agreed, but the flea soon became tired of being crushed under the ox's weight and jumped off. The ox was left alone, wondering why the flea had left. The moral of the story is that one should be grateful for what they have and not take it for granted.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore · 153 words
First lines
A Flea once said to an Ox, "How comes it that a big strong fellow like you is content to serve mankind, and do all their hard work for them, while I, who am no bigger than you see, live on their bodies and drink my fill of their blood, and never do a stroke for it all? " To which the Ox replied, "Men are very kind to me, and so I am grateful to them: they feed and house me well, and every now and then they show their fondness for me by patting me on the head and neck. " "They'd pat me, too," said the Flea, "if I let them: but I take good care they don't, or there would be nothing left of me. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Flea and the Ox 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, Classic Literature, Fantasy
- Length: 153 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Flea and the Ox 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 Flea and the Ox?
- 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 Fly And The Draught Mule by Esopo
- The Ass And The Dog by Esopo
- The Bee And Jupiter by Esopo
- The Gnat And The Bull by Esopo
- The Vain Jackdaw by Esopo
- The Flea And The Man by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The book is written by Esopo, who is known for writing fables. It centers around talking animals, one crucial feature of fables.
- Children's Literature — Esopo's fables, including 'The Flea and the Ox', are often used as moral lessons for children and thus fall under Children's Literature.
- Folklore — Esopo's stories are passed down generations, thus making 'The Flea and the Ox' part of folklore.
- Classic Literature — Esopo's work is classic and has been influential, making 'The Flea and the Ox' a part of Classic Literature.
Tags
fable · morality · animal characters · humor · allegory · size comparison · pride · humility · life lessons · wisdom · friendship · nature