The Rogue and the Oracle by Esopo
The Rogue and the Oracle is a fable written by Esopo. The story follows a rogue who seeks advice from an oracle to improve his life. The oracle provides the rogue with cryptic answers, which the rogue interprets incorrectly, leading to further misfortune. The tale highlights the dangers of relying solely on others for guidance and the importance of self-reflection.
By Esopo · First published 1667 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery · 153 words
First lines
A Rogue laid a wager that he would prove the Oracle at Delphi to be untrustworthy by procuring from it a false reply to an inquiry by himself. So he went to the temple on the appointed day with a small bird in his hand, which he concealed under the folds of his cloak, and asked whether what he held in his hand were alive or dead. If the Oracle said "dead," he meant to produce the bird alive: if the reply was "alive," he intended to wring its neck and show it to be dead. But the Oracle was one too many for him, for the answer he got was this: "Stranger, whether the thing that you hold in your hand be alive or dead is a matter that depends entirely on your own will. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Rogue and the Oracle is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1667 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: 1667 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery
- Length: 153 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Rogue and the Oracle 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 Rogue and the Oracle?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fantasy — The title implies elements of mythical characters or beings such as a rogue and an oracle. This is a common characteristic of the Fantasy genre.
- Adventure — Titles that include suggestive keywords like 'rogue' often involve adventure elements, as rogues are typically found in adventures with complex plots and changes in setting.
- Mystery — The inclusion of an 'oracle' in the title suggests elements of the unknown or future predictions, common themes in the Mystery genre.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · mystery · romance · mythology · suspense · magic · betrayal · friendship · prophecy · heroism · intrigue