The Goatherd and the Goat by Esopo
The Goatherd and the Goat is a fable by Esopo. The story goes like this: A goatherd once had a goat that he valued highly. One day, the goat escaped and went to a nearby field where she found a beautiful flower. She was so enchanted by it that she forgot about the goatherd and stayed in the field. The goatherd searched for her everywhere but couldn't find her. Eventually, he gave up and returned home. The next day, the goat returned to the goatherd, bringing with her the flower she had found. The goatherd was overjoyed and thanked the goat for bringing him such a beautiful gift. From then on, the goatherd treated the goat with even greater care and attention than before. The moral of the story is that sometimes what seems lost can actually be found again in unexpected ways, and that appreciation and gratitude can strengthen relationships.
By Esopo · First published 1667 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folk Tales & Myths · 118 words
First lines
A Goatherd was one day gathering his flock to return to the fold, when one of his goats strayed and refused to join the rest. He tried for a long time to get her to return by calling and whistling to her, but the Goat took no notice of him at all; so at last he threw a stone at her and broke one of her horns. In dismay, he begged her not to tell his master: but she replied, "You silly fellow, my horn would cry aloud even if I held my tongue. "
It's no use trying to hide what can't be hidden.
What this Textopian page supports
The Goatherd and the Goat is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1667 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: 1667 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Folk Tales & Myths, Animals, Classics
- Length: 118 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Goatherd and the Goat 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 Goatherd and the Goat?
- 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 Mule by Esopo
- The Lion In Love by Esopo
- The Farmer And The Stork by Esopo
- The Lion And The Ass by Esopo
- The Goat And The Vine by Esopo
- The Ass And His Shadow by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Given the author, Esopo, is known for his fables involving animals, which are often endowed with human characteristics and deliver a moral or lesson.
- Children's Literature — Fables, like 'The Goatherd and the Goat', are often positioned to children due to their simple, engaging narratives and moral teachings.
- Folk Tales & Myths — The story, being a fable attributed to a historic storyteller, fits into this category due to its traditional narrative form and mythic storytelling.
- Animals — Considering the story involves a goatherd and a goat, it is relevant to include the 'Animals' genre.
Tags
fable · morality · animal · goat · goatherd · allegory · wisdom · deception · trust · betrayal · nature · friendship