The Ox and the Grasshopper by Tomás de Iriarte
A poetic dialogue presents two animal figures embodying contrasting roles. One, a diligent beast of burden, labors in a field, carving furrows in service of a higher authority. The other, a lighthearted insect known for its pleasing song, interjects with sharp, superficial criticisms about the irregularities of the work. The laboring creature defends its execution by emphasizing that its efforts aim at fulfilling an assigned duty rather than achieving an ideal form of perfection. It asserts that minor flaws are inherent to any practical endeavor and that the critic, unburdened by responsibility, lacks both the insight and the accountability that come with genuine work. Beyond the literal exchange, the dialogue functions as an allegory on the nature of criticism and utility. It contrasts the value of productive labor that meets functional purposes with idle, perhaps aesthetically driven, judgment. The work challenges those who would focus on trivial defects while ignoring the overall merit and purpose of creative or practical activity. In doing so, it implicitly defends imperfections as natural and secondary to the fulfillment of one’s obligations, critiquing the tendency of some to dissect minor faults rather than appreciate the broader achievement of purposeful work.
By Tomás de Iriarte · First published 1782 · Genre: Fable, Allegory, Satire · 166 words
First lines
As in a field the sturdy Ox was ploughing, / A Grasshopper, close by him, shrilly sang out; / "Ah! what a crooked furrow, friend, you're making!
Then the Ox answered, -- "Sure, my little lady, / If every other furrow were not drawn straight, / You never would perceive that this was crooked; / Stop, then, reproaches so unjust and futile; / For well I serve my master, and he heeds not / A single failure, in so much accomplished."
Now let the captious critic that presumeth, -- / Vain Grasshopper, the useful Ox reproaching, -- / To drag to light, from works of sterling merit, / Some petty blemish, take to himself our meaning.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ox and the Grasshopper 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, Poetry
- Length: 166 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Fable — Uses anthropomorphic characters to illustrate moral lessons and ethical behaviors.
- Allegory — Employs symbolic figures and situations to represent broader human traits and societal concepts.
- Satire — Offers a humorous critique of social attitudes through contrast between practical effort and frivolous criticism.
- Didactic Literature — Aims to instruct readers through a concise narrative that conveys moral and ethical lessons.
Tags
fable · allegory · moral lesson · satire · animal characters · traditional narrative · didactic tale · human behavior · social commentary · nature symbolism · folklore · classic literature