The little that is known of Aesop is that he was a Greek slave who was granted freedom due to his remarkable story-telling....
COVER STORY
The little that is known of Aesop is that he was a Greek slave who was granted freedom due to his remarkable story-telling. So powerful was his wit that he was made into an advisor for the kings. Living in the 6th century BCE, countless short moral stories are credited to him, although there is no absolute certainty that he is the author of all. Aesop’s unique style was the use of anthropomorphism, which is the projection of human thoughts, emotions and characteristics to animals, plants and objects. Some sources consider him a legendary figure and not a real person, invented to serve as an author for all the stories collected over time.
Although Aesop lived thousands of years ago, young people today can still relate to his fables because the challenges and emotions shown in these stories are timeless. He used plants, animals and objects as his characters, but the lessons shed light on situations that young adults face in everyday life, such as competition and problems with friendships and character.
His stories are short and engaging, quite perfect for the times we are living in where people are so occupied that reading for leisure has become a luxury. One of the most remarkable features of Aesop’s fables is their simplicity. The stories leave a lasting impression on readers because they can actually relate to them in the context of what is unfolding right before their eyes. Often the characters are animals that behave like human beings. Foxes are often portrayed as clever, lions as powerful, donkeys as foolish and ants as hardworking. By using animals instead of people, the strengths and weaknesses of humans become more marked and striking, making the stories highly amusing.
Another reason for the lasting popularity of Aesop’s fables is their universal nature. The lessons can be understood by people from different backgrounds, regardless of age, nationality or religion. Beneath his fables lies an insightful understanding of human behaviour. He addresses the negativity of traits such as greed, jealousy, pride, laziness and dishonesty while encouraging virtues like wisdom, patience and kindness. Since these human traits have existed throughout history, the stories remain relevant in every age and culture. A child may enjoy the talking animals, while an adult may reflect more deeply on the moral meaning of the story. Teachers and parents have long used these fables to educate children about good character and ethical behaviour in a gentle and absorbing manner.
The influence of Aesop’s fables can also be seen in literature, education and popular culture around the world. Many writers and storytellers have adapted or retold these tales in different forms, such as in books, cartoons, films and plays. Their morals are often quoted in daily life, and many expressions in the English language originate from these stories. Even modern motivational lessons sometimes echo the same wisdom found in Aesop’s ancient narratives.
A meaningful lesson comes from ‘The fox and the grapes’, which shows how people will often shun something they cannot obtain, acting as if it is not worth it. Young people often face rejection from their peers and then proceed to badmouth or vilify them. Instead they should accept all kinds of rejection and failure gracefully because that is a part of life that will never fully go away.
His fable, ‘The tortoise and the hare’, teaches that success does not always belong to the smartest or fastest person. It is those who persevere who prevail. This fable attests to the fact that patience, hard work and consistency triumph overconfidence. A student who studies regularly may perform better than someone who is smarter but starts preparing at the eleventh hour.
Similarly, ‘The boy who cried wolf’ highlights the crucial importance of honesty. In today’s world, where rumours, fake stories and misleading information spread quickly on social media, truth has become an extremely valuable commodity. The fable teaches the young and old alike that lying, even as a joke, can be extremely harmful.
Reference: Fables taken from ‘Aesop’s Fables’, Penguin Popular Classics, complete and unabridged.
One summer’s day a stag came to a pool to quench his thirst, and as he stood drinking, he saw his form reflected in the mirror. “How beautiful and strong my horns are!” he remarked. “But how weak and unseemly these feet of mine are!”
While he was examining and criticizing the features that nature had given him, the hunters and hounds drew near. The feet, with which he had found so much fault, soon carried him out of reach of his pursuers, but the horns which were his pride and joy, became entangled in a thicket and kept him from escaping so that the hunters caught up with him and took his life.
Lesson: We tend to underestimate the small things about ourselves that are often our most valuable attributes.
A farmer set up a net in his field to catch some cranes that had been constantly feeding upon his newly-sown corn. When he went to examine the net and to see what the cranes had taken, there was a stork among them. “Spare me!” cried the stork. “I am not a crane. Nor have I eaten any of your corn. As you can see, I am a poor innocent stork, the most pious and dutiful of birds. I honour and respect my mother and father. I –
But the farmer cut him short. “All this may be true enough, but I only know that I’ve caught you with those birds who were destroying my crops, and since you were sharing their company, you must share their fate.”
Birds of a feather flock together.
The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat
Once upon a time there was a fierce war waged between the birds and the beasts. For a while the outcome of the battle was uncertain, and the bat, taking advantage of his ambiguous nature, kept out of the fray and remained neutral. Finally, when it appeared that the beasts would prevail, the bat joined their side and was active in the battle.
The birds rallied successfully, however, and the bat was found among the ranks of the victors at the end of the day.
After a peace agreement was speedily concluded, the bats conduct was
condemned by both parties, and since he was recognized by neither side and thus excluded from the terms of the truce, he was compelled to skulk off as best as he could. Ever since then he has lived in dingy holes and corners, never daring to show his face except in the dusk of twilight.
Those who practice deceit must expect to be shunned.
Two friends were traveling on the same road together when they encountered a bear. Without thinking about his companion, one of the travelers, a nimble fellow, climbed up a tree in great fear and hid himself. The other realized that he had no chance to fight the bear single-handedly, so he threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead, for he had heard that bears will never touch a dead body. As he lay there, the bear came up to his head, and sniffed his nose, ears, and heart, but the man remained still and held his breath. Finally, the bear was convinced that he was dead and walked away. When the bear was out of sight, the man in the tree came down and asked what it was that the bear had whispered to him, for he had observed that the bear had put his mouth close to his friend’s ear. “It was no great secret,” the other replied. “He merely told me to watch out for the company I keep and not to trust people who abandon their friends in difficult times.”
Adversity tests the sincerity of friends.
The wind and the sun once had an argument as to which was the stronger of the two, and they agreed to settle the issue by holding a contest: whoever could make a traveler take off his coat first would be recognized as the most powerful. The wind began and blew with all his might until he stirred up a blast, cold and fierce as an Alaskan storm. The stronger he blew, however, the tighter the traveler wrapped his coat around him and clasped it with his hands. Then the sun broke out, and with his welcome beams he dispersed the clouds and the cold. The traveler felt the sudden warmth, and as the sun shone brighter and brighter, he sat down, overcome by the heat, and threw his coat on the ground. Thus the sun was declared the winner, and ever since then, persuasion has been held in higher esteem than force.
