The Old Hound by Esopo (1668)
The story revolves around a veteran hound who has served his master faithfully for years, but is now struggling with age-related decline in strength and speed. Despite this, he is still mentally sharp and determined. When tasked with hunting a powerful wild boar, the hound seizes it by the ear, but fails to hold on due to his weakened physical state. His master scolds him harshly for failing to complete the task. The hound responds by pointing out that while his body may be weak, his will and determination remain strong. He argues that he should be honored for his past accomplishments rather than criticized for his current limitations. This narrative explores themes of aging, decline, and the value of experience and loyalty. It highlights the importance of recognizing and appreciating an individual's past contributions, even as they may no longer be able to perform at their peak level.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 136 words
First lines
A Hound who had served his master well for years, and had run down many a quarry in his time, began to lose his strength and speed owing to age. One day, when out hunting, his master started a powerful wild boar and set the Hound at him. The latter seized the beast by the ear, but his teeth were gone and he could not retain his hold; so the boar escaped. His master began to scold him severely, but the Hound interrupted him with these words: "My will is as strong as ever, master, but my body is old and feeble. You ought to honour me for what I have been instead of abusing me for what I am. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Hound 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, Fantasy, Animal Fiction
- Length: 136 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Old Hound 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 Old Hound?
- 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 Blacksmith And His Dog by Esopo
- The Horse And The Groom by Esopo
- The Herdsman And The Lost Bull by Esopo
- The Dog And The Sow by Esopo
- The Lion And The Ass by Esopo
- The Dog And The Cook by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Esopo is known for writing fables, and a story titled 'The Old Hound' can be assumed to have animals as characters. These animals likely have human characteristics or impart some moral lesson, typical of the fable genre.
- Children's Literature — Fables are typically written for a younger audience, aimed at teaching life lessons and morals through engaging storytelling.
- Fantasy — The implementation of talking animals or animals with human characteristics falls under the fantasy genre.
- Animal Fiction — The book's title indicates that an animal, in this case a hound, is a main character in the story.
Tags
fable · animal · wisdom · morality · friendship · loyalty · age · experience · adventure · courage · life lessons · nature