The Fox, the Monkey, and the Animals

Name: The Fox, the Monkey, and the Animals
Author: Jean de La Fontaine

After the lion’s death leaves the beasts without a king, they assemble to choose a successor. A crown is brought from a dragon-guarded, moated place and tried on the animals, but most heads are too small, horned, or too large to fit it. The monkey approaches with antics and grimaces, then passes through the crown as though it were a hoop. Amused by this performance, the beasts acclaim him king. The fox alone regrets the choice, though he does not openly object. After paying the new king his respects, he tells him of a hidden treasure that should belong to royalty. Eager to claim it, the monkey runs to inspect it and is caught in a trap. The fox rebukes him for believing he can rule and protect everyone’s rights when he cannot even protect himself. The beasts conclude that those fit to be kings are very scarce.

By Jean de La Fontaine · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Animal Fable, Moral Literature · 417 words

First lines

Left kingless by the lion's death, / The beasts once met, our story saith, / Some fit successor to install. / Forth from a dragon-guarded, moated place, / The crown was brought, and, taken from its case, / And being tried by turns on all, / The heads of most were found too small; / Some hornèd were, and some too big; / Not one would fit the regal gear. / For ever ripe for such a rig, / The monkey, looking very queer, / Approach'd with antics and grimaces, / And, after scores of monkey faces, / With what would seem a gracious stoop, / Pass'd through the crown as through a hoop. / The beasts, diverted with the thing, / Did homage to him as their king. / The fox alone the vote regretted, / But yet in public never fretted. / When he his compliments had paid / To royalty, thus newly made, / 'Great sire, I know a place,' said he, / 'Where lies conceal'd a treasure, / Which, by the right of royalty, / Should bide your royal pleasure. ' / The king lack'd not an appetite / For such financial pelf, / And, not to lose his royal right, / Ran straight to see it for himself. / It was a trap, and he was caught. / Said Renard, 'Would you have it thought, / You ape, that you can fill a throne, / And guard the rights of all, alone, / Not knowing how to guard your own?'

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Similar titles

Genres

Fable — The poem uses talking animals, a concise allegorical plot, and an explicit moral about the scarcity of qualities required for wise leadership.
Animal Fable — Animal characters embody recognizable human types: the vain monkey represents foolish rulers, while the fox represents cunning political intelligence.
Moral Literature — Its closing observation directly teaches that becoming a king requires judgment and self-protection, not merely public amusement or appearance.
Allegory — The contest for animal kingship allegorizes human political succession, incompetent rulers, manipulation, and the responsibilities of power.

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The Fox, the Monkey, and the Animals is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jean de La Fontaine, dated 1668 CE.

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Work type: Fable
Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Date: 1668 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fable, Animal Fable, Moral Literature, Allegory, Satire
Length: 417 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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