Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Eagle, the Jackdaw, and the Shepherd explained
A Jackdaw, seeing an Eagle carry off a lamb, attempts to imitate the feat but gets caught in a ram's wool.
What happens
A Jackdaw, seeing an Eagle carry off a lamb, attempts to imitate the feat but gets caught in a ram's wool. The Shepherd captures it, clips its wings, and shows it to his children, explaining that it is merely a Jackdaw pretending to be an Eagle. The fable warns against attempting what is beyond one's power, leading to wasted effort, misfortune, and ridicule.
Themes in this chapter
Pride and Folly
The Jackdaw's pride leads it to attempt a feat beyond its ability, resulting in capture and ridicule.
Appearance vs. Reality
The Jackdaw tries to appear as an Eagle but is revealed to be nothing more than a Jackdaw, highlighting the gap between pretense and true nature.
Characters to notice
- The Eagle
Observed by the Jackdaw as it successfully carries off a lamb, inspiring the Jackdaw's failed imitation.
- The Jackdaw
Attempts to imitate the Eagle but gets caught in a ram's wool, is captured by the Shepherd, and is ridiculed for its presumption.
- The Shepherd
Captures the entangled Jackdaw, clips its wings, and brings it home to his children, explaining the bird's folly.
Key passages
“If you attempt what is beyond your power, your trouble will be wasted and you court not only misfortune but ridicule.”
Trying to do something you are not capable of leads to wasted effort, failure, and mockery.
The moral of the fable, warning against overreaching one's abilities.