The Lion, Eagle and Bat by Tomás de Iriarte
A satirical allegory unfolds through a dispute between two exalted creatures representing established authority, as they condemn a third animal for its ambiguous identity. The contentious creature attempts to align itself with a higher order by displaying an attribute—its wings—while its inherent nature, marked by a broad snout instead of a beak, betrays its true position. Throughout the debate, the exalted figures maintain that established categories must remain distinct. They denounce the creature’s pretensions to belong to the realm of the noble, insisting that its hybrid character disqualifies it from either camp. Citing its physical limitations and inappropriate demeanor, the debate culminates in a decision to exile the ambiguous being from both domains, condemning it to solitary wandering in the dark. The work functions as a cautionary commentary on the dangers of attempting to be more than one thing at once, using the natural order as a metaphor for social, political, or intellectual categorical boundaries. In doing so, it underscores the inevitability of exclusion for those who fail to conform to clearly defined roles and criticizes the inherent folly of duplicity.
By Tomás de Iriarte · First published 1782 · Genre: Fable, Allegory, Satire · 290 words
First lines
The Eagle and Lion / Held solemn debate; / To settle between them / Some matters of state
Loud complaints of the Bat / Made the Eagle -- "How long / Shall this pitiful creature / Dare do us such wrong?
With my vassals mixing, / To her birdship she clings, -- / As proof irrefragable, / Showing her wings;
But says, when she chooses / Our laws to defy, / I'm no subject of yours; / A plain quadruped I.
What this Textopian page supports
The Lion, Eagle and Bat is listed on Textopian as a fable by Tomás de Iriarte, dated 1782 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Tomás de Iriarte
- Date: 1782 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Allegory, Satire, Didactic Literature
- Length: 290 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lion, Eagle and Bat by Tomás de Iriarte
- 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
- The Author And The Rat by Tomas De Iriarte
- The Unfortunate Giraffe by Oliver Herford
- The Lace Makers by Tomas De Iriarte
- The Cap And Bells by John Keats
- Bear And Whale by James Mcintyre
- Golden Egg by James Mcintyre
Genres
- Fable — Utilizes animal characters to illustrate moral lessons and societal behaviors typical of traditional fables.
- Allegory — Features symbolic representations of political and social structures through its animal participants.
- Satire — Employs humor and irony to critique and mock the established order and authority.
- Didactic Literature — Aims to instruct readers on ethical and political themes through its narrative structure.
Tags
Allegory · Fable · Animal symbolism · Metaphor · Baroque · Satire · Poetry · Riddle · Classic · Moral · Imagery · Wit