The Ploughman and the Wolf by Esopo
The Ploughman and the Wolf is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: A ploughman was working in his field when a wolf approached him, asking for directions to a nearby village. The ploughman, suspicious of the wolf's intentions, asked him why he wanted to go there. The wolf replied that he had lost his way and needed help finding the village. The ploughman, not wanting to help the wolf, told him that he was too far away from the village to see it on the horizon. The wolf, undeterred, asked if he could follow the ploughman to the village instead. The ploughman agreed, but as they walked, the wolf began to devour the ploughman's ox. The moral of the story is that one should not trust strangers too easily, as they may have ulterior motives.
By Esopo · First published 1524 · Genre: Fable, Children's literature, Folklore · 135 words
First lines
A Ploughman loosed his oxen from the plough, and led them away to the water to drink. While he was absent a half-starved Wolf appeared on the scene, and went up to the plough and began chewing the leather straps attached to the yoke. As he gnawed away desperately in the hope of satisfying his craving for food, he somehow got entangled in the harness, and, taking fright, struggled to get free, tugging at the traces as if he would drag the plough along with him. Just then the Ploughman came back, and seeing what was happening, he cried, "Ah, you old rascal, I wish you would give up thieving for good and take to honest work instead. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Ploughman and the Wolf is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1524 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: 1524 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's literature, Folklore, Mythology, Fantasy
- Length: 135 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ploughman and the Wolf 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 Ploughman and the Wolf?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- The Ass And The Wolf by Esopo
- The Fox And The Snake by Esopo
- The Crow And The Snake by Esopo
- The Sheep The Wolf And The Stag by Esopo
- The Viper And The File by Esopo
- The Wolf And The Shepherd by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Esopo is well-known for fable literature, and this title suggests a story involving animals and a moral lesson.
- Children's literature — Fables are often used to teach children moral lessons with simple narrative and characters, so this genre fits with 'The Ploughman and the Wolf'.
- Folklore — The theme of animal characters communicates ideas and traditional beliefs, characteristically found in folklore.
- Mythology — Esopo's works oftentimes incorporate mythical elements.
Tags
fable · morality · animal characters · allegory · wisdom · cautionary tale · nature · conflict · survival · trust · deception · friendship