← All chapters
Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Swollen Fox explained
A hungry fox finds food in a hollow tree, eats greedily, and becomes too swollen to escape.
What happens
A hungry fox finds food in a hollow tree, eats greedily, and becomes too swollen to escape. Another fox advises him to wait until he shrinks back to his normal size.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom and Foolishness
The trapped fox's greed leads to his predicament, while the second fox's advice reflects practical wisdom.
Human Nature and Vice
The fable illustrates the vice of gluttony and the consequences of yielding to immediate desires without foresight.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Well, my friend, I see nothing for it but for you to stay where you are till you shrink to your former size; you’ll get out then easily enough.”
You have no choice but to remain here until you become thin again; then you can leave without trouble.
The second fox's pragmatic solution highlights the theme of patience and natural consequence.