The Peasant and the Horse by Leo Tolstoy
A peasant's horse runs away, taking his belongings with it. The peasant is left with nothing and must start over. He eventually gets a new horse but it dies soon after. The peasant then gets another horse that lives longer but still dies. This cycle repeats itself several times until the peasant finally gets a horse that lives for many years.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1856 · Genre: Fable, Allegory, Satire · 264 words
First lines
A Peasant went to town to fetch some oats for his Horse. He had barely left the village, when the Horse began to turn around, toward the house. The Peasant struck the Horse with his whip. She went on, and kept thinking about the Peasant:
"Whither is that fool driving me? He had better go home."
Before reaching town, the Peasant saw that the Horse trudged along through the mud with difficulty, so he turned her on the pavement; but the Horse began to turn back from the street. The Peasant gave the Horse the whip, and jerked at the reins; she went on the pavement, and thought:
"Why has he turned me on the pavement? It will only break my hoofs. It is rough underfoot."
What this Textopian page supports
The Peasant and the Horse is listed on Textopian as a fable by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1856 CE.
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: 1856 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Allegory, Satire, Philosophical Fiction, Realism
- Length: 264 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Peasant and the Horse by Leo Tolstoy
- 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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Similar titles
- The Horse And His Masters by Leo Tolstoy
- The Two Horses by Leo Tolstoy
- Hares And Wolves by Leo Tolstoy
- The Peasant And The Cucumbers by Leo Tolstoy
- The Best Pears by Leo Tolstoy
- Moisture by Leo Tolstoy
Genres
- Fable — The narrative features anthropomorphized animals conveying moral lessons, characteristic of fables.
- Allegory — The story reflects deeper meanings about human nature and societal behavior through the interactions between the peasant and the horse.
- Satire — The work critiques human folly and the absurdity of certain behaviors, particularly in the context of labor and intelligence.
- Philosophical Fiction — The themes provoke thought about existence, purpose, and the nature of work and intelligence.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Russian Literature · 19th Century · Philosophical · Psychological · Realistic · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Peasant Life · Horse as Symbol · Existentialism