Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Thief and the Innkeeper explained
A thief rents a room at an inn, waiting for an opportunity to steal.
What happens
A thief rents a room at an inn, waiting for an opportunity to steal. When the innkeeper wears a fine new coat, the thief feigns a condition that turns him into a wolf after three yawns. Terrified, the innkeeper flees, leaving his coat behind, which the thief then steals.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The thief uses a clever lie about turning into a wolf to manipulate the innkeeper into giving up his coat.
Appearance vs. Reality
The thief appears to be a harmless guest but is actually a scheming robber; his yawns and howls are mistaken for genuine transformation.
Characters to notice
- The Thief
The thief cunningly deceives the innkeeper by pretending to transform into a wolf, using the ruse to steal the innkeeper's coat.
- The Innkeeper
The innkeeper is gullible and easily frightened, falling for the thief's trick and abandoning his coat in fear.
Key passages
“The Thief no sooner set eyes upon the coat than he longed to get possession of it.”
As soon as the thief saw the coat, he desperately wanted to steal it.
Highlights the thief's immediate greed and intent.
“The Innkeeper, believing every word he said, and terrified at the prospect of being confronted with a wolf, got up hastily and started to run indoors”
The innkeeper, completely fooled and scared of a wolf attack, jumped up and rushed inside.
Shows the innkeeper's gullibility and fear-driven reaction.