Section 227
The Fisherman Piping explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Fisherman who could play the flute went down one day to the sea-shore with his nets and his flute; and, taking his stand on a projecting rock, began to play a tune, thinking that the music would bring the fish jumping out of the sea. He went on playing for some time, but not...
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Public-domain original
A Fisherman who could play the flute went down one day to the
sea-shore with his nets and his flute; and, taking his stand on a
projecting rock, began to play a tune, thinking that the music would
bring the fish jumping out of the sea. He went on playing for some
time, but not a fish appeared: so at last he threw down his flute and
cast his net into the sea, and made a great haul of fish. When they
were landed and he saw them leaping about on the shore, he cried, "You
rascals! you wouldn't dance when I piped: but now I've stopped, you
can do nothing else!"
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A short fable about The Fisherman Piping shows how choices, assumptions, or desires can lead to consequences.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns a common human habit into a short lesson about judgment and consequences.
Characters in this scene
- The Fisherman Piping: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
In simple terms, The Fisherman Piping faces a small situation that reveals a larger lesson about behavior and consequences.