Section 262
The Old Man and Death explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
An Old Man cut himself a bundle of faggots in a wood and started to carry them home. He had a long way to go, and was tired out before he had got much more than half-way. Casting his burden on the ground, he called upon Death to come and release him from his life of toil. The...
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Public-domain original
An Old Man cut himself a bundle of faggots in a wood and started to
carry them home. He had a long way to go, and was tired out before he
had got much more than half-way. Casting his burden on the ground, he
called upon Death to come and release him from his life of toil. The
words were scarcely out of his mouth when, much to his dismay, Death
stood before him and professed his readiness to serve him. He was
almost frightened out of his wits, but he had enough presence of mind
to stammer out, "Good sir, if you'd be so kind, pray help me up with
my burden again."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
An Old Man cut himself a bundle of faggots in a wood and started to carry them home.
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 Old Man: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- Death: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
An Old Man cut himself a bundle of faggots in a wood and started to carry them home. He had a long way to go, and was tired out before he had got much more than half-way.