Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass explained
A Lion, Fox, and Ass hunt together and capture a large booty.
What happens
A Lion, Fox, and Ass hunt together and capture a large booty. The Lion asks the Ass to divide the spoils, but when the Ass divides it into three equal parts, the Lion kills him in fury. The Lion then orders the Fox to divide, and the Fox gives almost everything to the Lion, keeping only a tiny morsel for himself. When asked how he learned to divide so well, the Fox replies that he learned from the Ass's misfortune.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom and Foolishness
The Ass's foolish equal division leads to his death, while the Fox's wisdom in learning from that mistake saves him.
Social Hierarchy and Power
The Lion asserts dominance by killing the Ass and forcing the Fox to give him the largest share, illustrating the power dynamics among the hunters.
Characters to notice
- The Lion
Demands division of the spoils, kills the Ass for dividing equally, then praises the Fox for giving him the largest share.
- The Fox
Learns from the Ass's mistake and gives the Lion almost all the booty, keeping only a small morsel for himself.
- The Ass
Divides the booty into three equal parts and is killed by the Lion for his fairness.
Key passages
“The Fox replied, "Me? Oh, I took a lesson from the Ass."”
The Fox said that he learned how to divide the spoils by watching what happened to the Ass.
The Fox's cleverness and ability to learn from others' mistakes.