The Swallow and the Crow by Esopo
The Swallow and the Crow is a fable written by Esopo. The story goes as follows: A swallow and a crow were arguing over who was the most intelligent bird. The swallow claimed that it was he, while the crow maintained that it was she. They decided to test their intelligence by hiding a piece of cheese under one of three bowls, and then asking each other where it was hidden. The swallow, thinking he knew better, pointed to the wrong bowl, while the crow correctly identified the location of the cheese. The moral of the story is that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
By Esopo · First published 1602 · Genre: Fable, Fantasy, Children's Literature · 101 words
First lines
A Swallow was once boasting to a Crow about her birth. "I was once a princess," said she, "the daughter of a King of Athens, but my husband used me cruelly, and cut out my tongue for a slight fault. Then, to protect me from further injury, I was turned by Juno into a bird. " "You chatter quite enough as it is," said the Crow. "What you would have been like if you hadn't lost your tongue, I can't think. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Swallow and the Crow 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: Fable, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Folklore
- Length: 101 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Swallow and the Crow 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 Swallow and the Crow?
- 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 Goatherd And The Wild Goats by Esopo
- The Lark And The Farmer by Esopo
- The Fox And The Leopard by Esopo
- The Bat The Bramble And The Seagull by Esopo
- The Apes And The Two Travellers by Esopo
- The Fisherman Piping by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — As the book was written by Esopo, it is almost certain that it is a fable, as this is the style of writing Esopo is known for.
- Fantasy — The title suggests that the book involves animals that can possibly communicate with each other, an element common in fantasy literature.
- Children's Literature — The book's simple title and the implication of animal characters suggest it could be a piece of literature aimed at children.
- Folklore — Esopo's stories, including this likely one, are often based on common folk tales, making this a possible genre.
Tags
fable · morality · animals · wisdom · deception · nature · friendship · betrayal · caution · consequences · allegory · life lessons