The Ass and the Horse by Leo Tolstoy
A fable about a horse who befriends an ass, despite their natural differences. The horse tries to elevate the ass's status by teaching him how to behave like a noble animal, but ultimately realizes that the ass's simplicity and honesty are more valuable than his own pretentiousness.
By Leo Tolstoy · Genre: Fable, Allegory, Moral Tale · 137 words
First lines
A man had an Ass and a Horse. They were walking on the road; the Ass said to the Horse:
"It is heavy for me. -- I shall not be able to carry it all; take at least a part of my load."
The Horse paid no attention to him. The Ass fell down from overstraining himself, and died. When the master transferred the Ass's load on the Horse, and added the Ass's hide, the Horse began to complain:
"Oh, woe to me, poor one, woe to me, unfortunate Horse! I did not want to help him even a little, and now I have to carry everything, and his hide, too. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Ass and the Horse is listed on Textopian as a fable by Leo Tolstoy, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Allegory, Moral Tale, Short Story, Satire
- Length: 137 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Ass and the Horse by Leo Tolstoy
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Imp And The Crust by Leo Tolstoy
- In The Duck Yard by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Dogs And The Cook by Leo Tolstoy
- The Wolf And The Hunters by Leo Tolstoy
- The Jackals And The Elephant by Leo Tolstoy
- The Duck And The Moon by Leo Tolstoy
Genres
- Fable — The narrative features anthropomorphized animals and conveys a moral lesson, characteristic of fables.
- Allegory — The story represents broader themes of responsibility and the consequences of inaction through symbolic characters.
- Moral Tale — The plot centers around a moral lesson regarding empathy and the repercussions of selfishness.
- Short Story — The work is concise and presents a complete narrative arc within a brief format.
Tags
Fable · Satire · Social Commentary · Animal Story · Philosophical · Humorous · Critique of Society · Morality Tale · Allegory · Realism · Psychological Insight · Character Study