The King and the Elephants by Leo Tolstoy
The story revolves around a king who rules over a kingdom with an iron fist. He is advised by a group of wise men and has a large army at his disposal. However, the king's power is threatened when a group of elephants, led by a massive and intelligent leader, begin to cause chaos in the kingdom. As the situation escalates, the king becomes increasingly paranoid and tyrannical, ordering his soldiers to hunt down and kill the elephants. But the elephants prove to be more cunning and resilient than expected, and they continue to wreak havoc on the kingdom. Meanwhile, a young prince begins to question the morality of the king's actions and the true nature of power. He becomes increasingly disillusioned with the king's rule and eventually decides to take matters into his own hands. The story builds towards a climactic confrontation between the prince and the king, as the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. Along the way, themes of power, corruption, and the human condition are explored in depth.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1872 · Genre: Fable, Allegory, Philosophical · 276 words
First lines
An Indian King ordered all the Blind People to be assembled, and when they came, he ordered that all the Elephants be shown to them. The Blind Men went to the stable and began to feel the Elephants. One felt a leg, another a tail, a third the stump of a tail, a fourth a belly, a fifth a back, a sixth the ears, a seventh the tusks, and an eighth a trunk.
Then the King called the Blind Men, and asked them: "What are my Elephants like?"
One Blind Man said: "Your Elephants are like posts. " He had felt the legs.
Another Blind Man said: "They are like bath brooms. " He had felt the end of the tail.
What this Textopian page supports
The King and the Elephants is listed on Textopian as a short story by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1872 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Allegory, Philosophical, Children's Literature, Short Story
- Length: 276 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The King and the Elephants by Leo Tolstoy
- 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
Similar titles
- King John And The Abbot by James Baldwin
- The Best Pears by Leo Tolstoy
- The Prisoners Of The Queen by L. Frank Baum
- The Prince And The Pauper Part 5 by Mark Twain
- The Great Stone Face by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Snakes Head And Tail by Leo Tolstoy
Genres
- Fable — The narrative conveys a moral lesson through a simple story involving animals and human characters.
- Allegory — The story represents deeper truths about perception, understanding, and the nature of reality.
- Philosophical — The themes explore concepts of knowledge, perspective, and subjective truth.
- Children's Literature — The straightforward narrative and moral make it suitable for a younger audience.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Philosophy · Psychology · Morality · Politics · Power Struggle · Royal Court · Social Hierarchy · Class Conflict · Loyalty · Betrayal · Deception