Fables by Aesop (Illustrated Wordsworth Classics)

Description

Aesop’s Fables are a collection of short moral tales credited to Aesop, an ancient Greek storyteller believed to have lived between 620 and 560 BCE. These fables have been passed down through generations and have become widely known for their enduring wisdom and timeless lessons.

Aesop’s Fables typically feature animals as the main characters, each with their own distinctive traits and behaviors. Through these anthropomorphic animal characters, Aesop imparts moral lessons and insights into human nature. The fables often depict common human situations, dilemmas, and vices, using the animal characters to illustrate moral principles.

Some of the most famous fables attributed to Aesop include:

1. “The Tortoise and the Hare”: This fable tells the story of a slow-moving tortoise and a swift hare who decide to have a race. Despite the hare’s initial lead, he becomes overconfident and takes a nap, allowing the tortoise to steadily continue and win the race. The moral of the story is that slow and steady progress can ultimately lead to success.

2. “The Ant and the Grasshopper”: In this fable, an industrious ant spends the summer gathering and storing food, while a carefree grasshopper sings and enjoys the season. When winter arrives, the ant has enough food to survive, while the grasshopper struggles. The fable teaches the value of hard work and preparation.

3. “The Lion and the Mouse”: This fable tells the story of a mighty lion who spares the life of a small mouse. Later, when the lion is trapped in a hunter’s net, the mouse comes to its aid by gnawing through the ropes. The moral emphasizes that even the smallest acts of kindness can have significant impacts.

These fables, along with many others, offer moral lessons on virtues such as patience, humility, honesty, wisdom, and the consequences of one’s actions. The simplicity and accessibility of Aesop’s Fables have made them popular and enduring throughout history, as they continue to entertain and teach valuable lessons to both children and adults alike.