The Ploughman, the Ass, and the Ox
The Ploughman, the Ass, and the Ox is a fable by Esopo. The story goes like this: A ploughman had an ass and an ox, which he used for plowing his field. One day, he left them in the field and went to market. While he was away, the ass and the ox began to argue over who was the most useful animal. The ass claimed that it was more useful than the ox because it could carry heavier loads and work longer hours. The ox countered that it was more useful because it could plow the field faster and more efficiently. As they argued, a fox passed by and heard their conversation. He decided to play a trick on them. He convinced the ass that he could lift a heavy load all by itself, and the ox that he could plow the field without any help. The ass and the ox believed the fox's lies and became lazy, refusing to work. The ploughman returned from market and found his field uncultivated and his animals idle. He realized that the ass and the ox had become lazy because of the fox's trickery. He chased the fox away and then used the ass and the ox to plow the field together, teaching them that they were more useful when they worked together. The moral of the story is that unity is strength, and that working together is often more effective than individual effort.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Folklore, Children's Literature · 114 words
First lines
A Ploughman yoked his Ox and his Ass together, and set to work to plough his field. It was a poor makeshift of a team, but it was the best he could do, as he had but a single Ox. At the end of the day, when the beasts were loosed from the yoke, the Ass said to the Ox, "Well, we've had a hard day: which of us is to carry the master home? " The Ox looked surprised at the question. "Why," said he, "you, to be sure, as usual. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Ploughman, the Ass, and the Ox 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, Folklore, Children's Literature, Moral, Animal Fiction
- Length: 114 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ploughman, the Ass, and the Ox 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 Ploughman, the Ass, and the Ox?
- 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 Lion And The Ass by Esopo
- The Horse And The Ass by Esopo
- The Heifer And The Ox by Esopo
- The Bat The Bramble And The Seagull by Esopo
- The Ass And The Dog by Esopo
- The Mule by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Esopo, or Aesop in English, is an author renowned for his use of fables, or stories that convey a moral lesson using animals (like an ass and an ox) as main characters.
- Folklore — Given the allegorical nature of fables and their origin in oral tradition, they can also be classed under folklore.
- Children's Literature — Although Aesop's fables carry profound lessons applicable to all ages, their simple and engaging format renders them popular in children's literature.
- Moral — Aesop's fables are essentially moral tales, often used to teach values and ethical behavior.
Tags
fable · morality · animal characters · allegory · wisdom · labor · friendship · hard work · teamwork · humor · life lessons · cautionary tale