The Wolf and His Shadow by Esopo
The Wolf and His Shadow, a fable by Esopo, tells the story of a wolf who desires to be able to see himself in a mirror. The wolf's shadow appears in the mirror instead, and the wolf becomes frustrated and tries to catch his shadow. However, no matter how hard he tries, the shadow always manages to stay one step ahead. In the end, the wolf realizes that he cannot catch his shadow and learns to appreciate the beauty of his own reflection.
By Esopo · First published 1735 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fable, Fantasy · 130 words
First lines
A Wolf, who was roaming about on the plain when the sun was getting low in the sky, was much impressed by the size of his shadow, and said to himself, "I had no idea I was so big. Fancy my being afraid of a lion! Why, I, not he, ought to be King of the beasts"; and, heedless of danger, he strutted about as if there could be no doubt at all about it. Just then a lion sprang upon him and began to devour him. "Alas," he cried, "had I not lost sight of the facts, I shouldn't have been ruined by my fancies. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Wolf and His Shadow is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1735 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: 1735 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fable, Fantasy, Folk Tales, Mythology
- Length: 130 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wolf and His Shadow 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Wolf and His Shadow?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Wolf And The Lion by Esopo
- The Pack Ass And The Wild Ass by Esopo
- The Hound And The Hare by Esopo
- The Stag And The Lion by Esopo
- The Lioness And The Vixen by Esopo
- The Lion The Wolf And The Fox by Esopo
Genres
- Children's Literature — The straightforward narrative and moral lessons are typical of children's stories.
- Fable — The use of animals as the primary characters and embodying morals consistent with Aesopian narratives classify it as a fable.
- Fantasy — The anthropomorphic wolf character implies elements of fantasy.
- Folk Tales — The storytelling style and use of a moral lesson align with common threads in folk tales.
Tags
fable · morality · animal allegory · friendship · betrayal · loyalty · cunning · wisdom · nature · survival · trust · deception