The Stag in the Ox-Stall by Esopo
Esopo's "The Stag in the Ox-Stall" is a fable about a stag who takes refuge in an ox-stall to escape a hunter. The stag, feeling safe and comfortable, falls asleep. However, the ox, sensing the stag's presence, kicks him out, revealing that safety is not always guaranteed even when one finds shelter.
By Esopo · First published 1602 · Genre: Fables, Children's Literature, Fiction · 306 words
First lines
A Stag, chased from his lair by the hounds, took refuge in a farmyard, and, entering a stable where a number of oxen were stalled, thrust himself under a pile of hay in a vacant stall, where he lay concealed, all but the tips of his horns. Presently one of the Oxen said to him, "What has induced you to come in here? Aren't you aware of the risk you are running of being captured by the herdsmen? " To which he replied, "Pray let me stay for the present. When night comes I shall easily escape under cover of the dark. " In the course of the afternoon more than one of the farmhands came in, to attend to the wants of the cattle, but not one of them noticed the presence of the Stag, who accordingly began to congratulate himself on his escape and to express his gratitude to the Oxen. "We wish you well," said the one who had spoken before, "but you are not out of danger yet. If the master comes, you will certainly be found out, for nothing ever escapes his keen eyes. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Stag in the Ox-Stall is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1602 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: 1602 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fables, Children's Literature, Fiction, Fantasy, Animal Fiction
- Length: 306 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Stag in the Ox-Stall 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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Similar titles
- The Ass And The Wolf by Esopo
- The Lion And The Ass by Esopo
- The Dogs And The Hides by Esopo
- The Bear And The Fox by Esopo
- The Fox Who Had Lost His Tail by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Monkey And The Dolphin by Esopo
Genres
- Fables — The author, Esopo, is renowned for writing fables. The title also suggests an animal as the central character, a common trait in fables.
- Children's Literature — Fables are often directed at children due to their moral teachings and simplicity.
- Fiction — Fables are a type of fictional literature, where animals are anthropomorphized.
- Fantasy — The anthropomorphization of animals, as indicated in the title, is a common element in fantasy literature.
Tags
fable · morality · animal characters · cautionary tale · deception · identity · self-awareness · nature · survival · conflict · wisdom · humor