The Tunny-Fish and the Dolphin
The Tunny-Fish and the Dolphin, by Esopo: A tunny-fish and a dolphin were swimming in the sea together when they encountered a group of sharks. The dolphin, being clever, suggested that they pretend to be a school of fish to avoid being attacked by the sharks. The tunny-fish agreed and they both swam away together, with the dolphin leading the way. As they were swimming, the dolphin suddenly stopped and said, "I'm tired, let's rest here." The tunny-fish was confused and asked why they couldn't keep swimming. The dolphin replied, "Because we are pretending to be fish, and if we keep swimming, we will attract more sharks."
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Classic Literature · 117 words
First lines
A Tunny-fish was chased by a Dolphin and splashed through the water at a great rate, but the Dolphin gradually gained upon him, and was just about to seize him when the force of his flight carried the Tunny on to a sandbank. In the heat of the chase the Dolphin followed him, and there they both lay out of the water, gasping for dear life. When the Tunny saw that his enemy was doomed like himself, he said, "I don't mind having to die now: for I see that he who is the cause of my death is about to share the same fate. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Tunny-Fish and the Dolphin 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, Children's Literature, Classic Literature, Mythology
- Length: 117 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Tunny-Fish and the Dolphin 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 Tunny-Fish and the Dolphin?
- 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 Mouse The Frog And The Hawk by Esopo
- The Lion The Bear And The Fox by Esopo
- The Bear And The Travellers by Esopo
- The Horse And The Groom by Esopo
- The Lion Jupiter And The Elephant by Esopo
- The Lion And The Boar by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The book is a story featuring anthropomorphized animals, specifically a tunny-fish and a dolphin, and conveying a moral, which is a characteristic of fables.
- Children's Literature — This story is often used as a teaching tool for children due to its moral component and straightforward narrative, common in children's literature.
- Classic Literature — As a story written by the ancient Greek fabulist, Esopo, it falls under the category of classic literature.
- Mythology — The story can also be considered part of Greek mythology since its author, Esopo, is known for his mythical tales featuring animals and gods alike.
Tags
fable · animals · morality · friendship · ocean · adventure · wisdom · courage · betrayal · nature · mythology · storytelling