Aesop Composing His Fables

Title: Aesop Composing His Fables (1833) - Artist: Charles Landseer

Aesop is a Greek storyteller and critic who lived around the 6th century BC. He is credited with authoring hundreds of fables, in which the characters are talking animals that exhibit human qualities. Aesop's fables have become an integral part of Western literature and have been orally transmitted and read for centuries.

Aesop's fables are diverse and cover various themes such as morality, duty, responsibility, proper behavior, and the value of truth and honesty. Some of Aesop's famous fables include "The Tortoise and the Hare," "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," "The Ant and the Grasshopper," and "The Lion and the Mouse."

Many authors have since rewritten or offered different versions of Aesop's fables, and his stories have become a source of inspiration for many other works of literature and art.

The Ants and the Grasshopper

The Ants and the Grasshopper: Aesop’s Fables

"The Ants and the Grasshopper" is a fable about an industrious ant who prepares for winter while a carefree grasshopper faces hardship.
The Boys and the Frogs

The Boys and the Frogs: The Fables of Aesop

"The Boys and the Frogs" tells of boys whose playful stone-throwing terrifies frogs, revealing the impact of one's fun on others' suffering.
The Rat and the Elephant

The Rat and the Elephant: The Aesop for Children

"The Rat and the Elephant" is the story by Aesop about a proud rat who learns humility after comparing himself to a grand elephant.
The Wolf and His Shadow

The Wolf and His Shadow: Aesop’s Fables

"The Wolf and His Shadow" is a fable by Aesop about a wolf whose inflated pride, fueled by his shadow, leads to his downfall.
The Frogs Who Wished for a King

The Frogs Who Wished for a King: The Fables of Aesop

The Frogs Who Wished for a King is about frogs who regret their wish for a monarch when their new ruler proves to be a harsh tyrant.
The Lion and the Ass

The Lion and the Ass: The Aesop for Children

The Lion and the Ass is a fable by Aesop where a lion ignores an ass’s scornful remark, teaching the value of disregarding foolishness.
The Travelers and the Purse

The Travelers and the Purse: Aesop’s Fable

The Travelers and the Purse is a tale about two men who find a purse but face trouble when one refuses to share the fortune or misfortune.
The Farmer and the Stork

The Farmer and the Stork: The Fables of Aesop

"The Farmer and the Stork" is a fable where an innocent Stork is punished with thieving Cranes, teaching the lesson of guilt by association.
The Oxen and the Wheels

The Oxen and the Wheels: Aesop’s Fable

"The Oxen and the Wheels" is a fable by Aesop about oxen who work hard in silence while the wheels complain loudly with little to do.
The Ass and His Driver

The Ass and His Driver: The Fables of Aesop

"The Ass and His Driver" is a fable by Aesop about the dangers of stubbornness and ignoring wise advice, leading to inevitable misfortune.