# The Nightingale and the Hawk explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A Nightingale, singing on an oak bough, is caught by a hungry Hawk. She pleads for her life by arguing she is too small a meal and suggests he seek larger prey. The Hawk dismisses her plea, refusing to trade a certain prize for an uncertain better one.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cunning and Deception

The Nightingale attempts to deceive the Hawk into releasing her by arguing she is not worth eating.

### Wisdom and Foolishness

The Hawk wisely refuses to give up a certain meal for an uncertain one, illustrating practical wisdom.

## Character check-ins

### The Nightingale

Caught while singing, pleads for life by claiming she is too small.

### The Hawk

Hungry predator who seizes the Nightingale and rejects her plea.

## Key lines

> I’m not big enough to make you a good meal: you ought to seek your prey among the bigger birds.

The Nightingale claims she is too small to satisfy the Hawk's hunger and advises him to hunt larger birds instead.

_The Nightingale's desperate attempt to escape by downplaying her own value as prey._

> You must think me very simple if you suppose I am going to give up a certain prize on the chance of a better of which I see at present no signs.

The Hawk scoffs at the idea of releasing a guaranteed catch for a hypothetical larger one that is not in sight.

_The Hawk's pragmatic refusal highlights the folly of risking a sure thing for an uncertain gain._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-nightingale-and-the-hawk
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters