Section 33

The Fox and the Monkey explained simply

Aesop's Fables by Aesop

Original excerpt

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A Fox and a Monkey were on the road together, and fell into a dispute as to which of the two was the better born. They kept it up for some time, till they came to a place where the road passed through a cemetery full of monuments, when the Monkey stopped and looked about him and gave...
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Public-domain original

A Fox and a Monkey were on the road together, and fell into a dispute as to which of the two was the better born. They kept it up for some time, till they came to a place where the road passed through a cemetery full of monuments, when the Monkey stopped and looked about him and gave a great sigh. "Why do you sigh?" said the Fox. The Monkey pointed to the tombs and replied, "All the monuments that you see here were put up in honour of my forefathers, who in their day were eminent men." The Fox was speechless for a moment, but quickly recovering he said, "Oh! don't stop at any lie, sir; you're quite safe: I'm sure none of your ancestors will rise up and expose you." Boasters brag most when they cannot be detected.

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What happens here

A monkey boasts about noble ancestors, and the fox exposes the boast as empty.

Why this scene matters

This fable warns that claims about status are easy when no proof is required.

Characters in this scene

  • Fox: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
  • the Monkey: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.

Simple story version

A monkey pretends the graves around him belong to his great ancestors. The fox notes that none of them can contradict him.