The Two Bags by Esopo (1667)
The story revolves around a man who owns two bags, one made of leather and the other of cloth. He decides to test their durability by filling them with various objects. He fills the leather bag with gold coins, jewels, and fine clothes, while the cloth bag is filled with worthless items such as stones, pebbles, and broken pottery. The man then hangs both bags from a tree branch and observes what happens next. As expected, the leather bag remains intact, but the cloth bag tears apart due to its fragile material. However, when a strong gust of wind blows, the leather bag also rips open, spilling its contents onto the ground. Meanwhile, the cloth bag's contents are scattered as well, but they prove to be worthless and cause no harm. The man realizes that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in their value and utility. The story concludes with a moral lesson about the fleeting nature of wealth and the importance of being content with what one has.
By Esopo · First published 1667 · Genre: Fable, Folklore, Children's Literature · 61 words
First lines
Every man carries Two Bags about with him, one in front and one behind, and both are packed full of faults. The Bag in front contains his neighbours' faults, the one behind his own. Hence it is that men do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.
What this Textopian page supports
The Two Bags 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: Fable, Folklore, Children's Literature, Classic Literature, Fantasy
- Length: 61 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Two Bags by Esopo
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Goods And The Ills by Esopo
- The Man Who Lost His Spade by Esopo
- The Mule by Esopo
- The Old Woman And The Wine Jar by Esopo
- The Lamp by Esopo
- The Peasant And The Apple Tree by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — As a story attributed to the ancient Greek author Aesop, 'The Two Bags' belongs to the genre of fable. Typically, Aesop's fables feature animals or inanimate objects as characters and convey a moral or lesson.
- Folklore — Aesop's fables have been passed down across generations which qualifies them to be a part of the folklore genre. These stories are traditionally oral, told in a manner that makes them easy to remember and retell.
- Children's Literature — Historically, Aesop's fables including 'The Two Bags' have served as children's literature due to their simple, engaging stories and the moral lessons they teach.
- Classic Literature — 'The Two Bags', like other Aesop's fables, is considered a part of Classic Literature because of its historical relevance and enduring popularity over centuries.
Tags
fable · morality · wisdom · choices · consequences · self-reflection · human nature · allegory · life lessons · values · greed · humility