The Oxen and the Axletrees by Esopo
The Oxen and the Axletrees is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: A farmer had two oxen and an axletree. He wanted to know which was the most useful, so he asked the oxen and the axletree for their opinions. The oxen said they were the most useful, as they did all the work on the farm. The axletree disagreed, saying it was more useful because it allowed the oxen to pull the plow without getting tired. The farmer was unsure who to believe, so he decided to test their claims. He put the oxen and the axletree in a race, and the axletree won easily, as it did not get tired or sweaty during the race. The moral of the story is that even though something may seem useful, it is not always the most important or valuable. The farmer realized that the axletree was more useful because it allowed the oxen to work without getting tired, and he learned to appreciate the value of different things in different ways.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore · 75 words
First lines
A pair of Oxen were drawing a heavily loaded wagon along the highway, and, as they tugged and strained at the yoke, the Axletrees creaked and groaned terribly. This was too much for the Oxen, who turned round indignantly and said, "Hullo, you there! Why do you make such a noise when we do all the work? "
They complain most who suffer least.
What this Textopian page supports
The Oxen and the Axletrees 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, Fantasy, Classics
- Length: 75 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Oxen and the Axletrees 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 Oxen and the Axletrees?
- 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 Fisherman Piping by Esopo
- The Two Pots by Esopo
- The Man And The Satyr by Esopo
- The Lion The Wolf And The Fox by Esopo
- The Horse And The Ass by Esopo
- The Heifer And The Ox by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Being a work of Aesop, it is highly likely to fall into the genre of fables, short stories typically with animals as characters conveying a moral lesson.
- Children's Literature — Fables by Aesop, including this one, are traditionally aimed at a juvenile audience due to their moralistic and educational content.
- Folklore — As an ancient tale attributed to Aesop, it would fit into the folklore genre which encompasses stories passed down orally through generations.
- Fantasy — Considering that Aesop's fables often involve anthropomorphized animals or objects, the book could also be classified as a form of fantasy.
Tags
fable · morality · animals · allegory · wisdom · friendship · cooperation · strength · community · nature · teaching · values