The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass
The story revolves around three animals - a lion, a fox, and an ass - who go hunting together. They successfully hunt and gather a large amount of food, which they then need to divide among themselves. The ass suggests dividing it equally among them, but the lion becomes enraged when he sees that the ass has taken no share for himself. The lion then orders the fox to make a new division, instructing him to give the lion as much as possible and leave only a small portion for himself. The fox cleverly takes advantage of the situation by gathering most of the food into one large heap for the lion's share, leaving only a tiny amount for himself. The story concludes with the lion praising the fox for his division skills, which he claims to have learned from observing the ass's mistake. However, it is clear that the fox has actually taken advantage of the situation and manipulated the lion into giving him more than his fair share.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fables, Fiction, Children's literature · 163 words
First lines
A Lion, a Fox, and an Ass went out hunting together. They had soon taken a large booty, which the Lion requested the Ass to divide between them. The Ass divided it all into three equal parts, and modestly begged the others to take their choice; at which the Lion, bursting with fury, sprang upon the Ass and tore him to pieces. Then, glaring at the Fox, he bade him make a fresh division. The Fox gathered almost the whole in one great heap for the Lion's share, leaving only the smallest possible morsel for himself. "My dear friend," said the Lion, "how did you get the knack of it so well? " The Fox replied, "Me? Oh, I took a lesson from the Ass. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass 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: Fables, Fiction, Children's literature, Fantasy, Moral
- Length: 163 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass 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 Lion, the Fox, and the Ass?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fables first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Hound And The Fox by Esopo
- The Lioness And The Vixen by Esopo
- The Crab And The Fox by Esopo
- The Wolf The Fox And The Ape by Esopo
- The Wild Boar And The Fox by Esopo
- Jupiter And The Monkey by Esopo
Genres
- Fables — Esopo is a well-known author of fables, and the title of the book suggests it is a story about anthropomorphized animals, a common theme in fables.
- Fiction — The book tells a made-up story involving talking animals, characteristic of fiction.
- Children's literature — Fables, particularly those involving animal characters, are often written for children due to their moral lessons and easily understood narratives.
- Fantasy — The notion of talking animals is a fantastical element, fitting it within the broader genre of fantasy.
Tags
fable · animal characters · morality · wisdom · deception · friendship · betrayal · cunning · adventure · lesson · narrative · allegory