The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk
The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk, by Esopo: A mouse, a frog, and a hawk are the main characters in this ancient Egyptian fable. The mouse and the frog are friends who live together in a hole in the ground. One day, the hawk comes along and offers to take them both on a ride through the sky. The mouse is hesitant but the frog is excited at the prospect of flying. However, when they reach their destination, the hawk drops the mouse and frog back down to the ground, leaving them unharmed but wiser for their experience. What do you think about this story?
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore · 179 words
First lines
A Mouse and a Frog struck up a friendship; they were not well mated, for the Mouse lived entirely on land, while the Frog was equally at home on land or in the water. In order that they might never be separated, the Frog tied himself and the Mouse together by the leg with a piece of thread. As long as they kept on dry land all went fairly well; but, coming to the edge of a pool, the Frog jumped in, taking the Mouse with him, and began swimming about and croaking with pleasure. The unhappy Mouse, however, was soon drowned, and floated about on the surface in the wake of the Frog. There he was spied by a Hawk, who pounced down on him and seized him in his talons. The Frog was unable to loose the knot which bound him to the Mouse, and thus was carried off along with him and eaten by the Hawk.
What this Textopian page supports
The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk 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, Moral, Fantasy
- Length: 179 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk 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 Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk?
- 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 Tunny Fish And The Dolphin by Esopo
- The Kid And The Wolf by Esopo
- The Bear And The Travellers by Esopo
- The Lion And The Three Bulls by Esopo
- The Wolf And The Boy by Esopo
- The Two Soldiers And The Robber by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Esopo is known for his fables and the title suggests animals with human-like characteristics, a common theme in fables.
- Children's Literature — The simple structure and the anthropomorphic characters make it suitable for children.
- Folklore — Fables are traditionally passed down through generations, placing it within folklore.
- Moral — Considering Esopo's reputation, it likely contains a lesson or moral.
Tags
fable · animals · morality · friendship · courage · nature · adventure · wisdom · deception · survival · loyalty · conflict