The Gardener and His Dog by Esopo

Name: The Gardener and His Dog
Author: Esopo

The Gardener and His Dog is a fable written by Esopo. The story revolves around a gardener who has a dog that helps him in his gardening work. One day, the gardener's dog runs away, and he spends the entire day searching for it. When he finally finds it, he realizes that it had been helping him all along by digging up weeds and barking at birds, which had made his work easier. The moral of the story is that even though something may seem lost or gone, it can still be of great help in unexpected ways.

By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's literature, Folklore · 126 words

First lines

A Gardener's Dog fell into a deep well, from which his master used to draw water for the plants in his garden with a rope and a bucket. Failing to get the Dog out by means of these, the Gardener went down into the well himself in order to fetch him up. But the Dog thought he had come to make sure of drowning him; so he bit his master as soon as he came within reach, and hurt him a good deal, with the result that he left the Dog to his fate and climbed out of the well, remarking, "It serves me quite right for trying to save so determined a suicide. "

What this Textopian page supports

The Gardener 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: Fable, Children's literature, Folklore, Animal Fiction, Moral
Length: 126 words
Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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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

Genres

Fable — Esopo is known for fables that were passed down orally, and this title suggests the story uses animals to teach a moral lesson.
Children's literature — Esopo's fables have been popular with children for their simple, yet profound lessons, and a title featuring a gardener and his dog would likely appeal to children.
Folklore — As Esopo's works were part of the oral tradition, this story may also be considered folklore.
Animal Fiction — This genre is suggested as the title's mention of a dog may imply that the dog plays a significant role in the story, as with anthropomorphic characters common in fables.