Fables are short stories that teach values. Often the characters in fables are animals that can talk but still have their natural animal traits. Through the actions of the animals fables illustrate a behavior that puts them in danger or reveals a weakness. It is easy to see that there is a corresponding human behavior that is not beneficial. Fables are a gentle way to teach wisdom and good sense. Usually the stories are funny and at one time they were told in social gatherings like a joke is told today.
Aesop is the master fable writer. There are hundreds of recorded Aesop fables. Most of them are not familiar to us today. What do you think is the message of this fable?
A Lion used to prowl about a field in which
Four Oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he
came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he
approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however, they
fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a
separate corner of the field. Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon
made an end of all four.
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