# The Olive-Tree and the Fig-Tree explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

An Olive-tree mocks a Fig-tree for losing its leaves each autumn while she remains evergreen. However, when a heavy snowfall comes, the Olive's leaves catch the snow, causing her to bend and break under the weight, while the Fig's bare branches let the snow fall through harmlessly, allowing it to survive and bear fruit again.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pride and Folly

The Olive-tree's pride in its evergreen leaves leads to its downfall when the snow exploits that very feature.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The Olive's lush appearance proves fragile, while the Fig's barrenness is actually a strength.

## Character check-ins

### The Olive-Tree

Taunts the Fig-tree for losing its leaves, but is destroyed by snow due to its own foliage.

### The Fig-Tree

Endures the mockery and survives the snow because its bare branches do not catch the weight.

## Key lines

> An Olive-tree taunted a Fig-tree with the loss of her leaves at a certain season of the year.

An Olive-tree mocked a Fig-tree for shedding its leaves each autumn.

_Sets up the conflict between the two trees based on seasonal appearance._

> Soon afterwards there came a heavy fall of snow, which settled on the leaves of the Olive so that she bent and broke under the weight; but the flakes fell harmlessly through the bare branches of the Fig, which survived to bear many another crop.

A heavy snowfall soon followed; the Olive's leaves caught the snow, causing it to break, while the Fig's bare branches let the snow pass through, allowing it to survive and produce future harvests.

_Illustrates the ironic reversal of fortune where the Fig's weakness becomes its advantage._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-olive-tree-and-the-fig-tree
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters