Section 239
The Snake and Jupiter explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Snake suffered a good deal from being constantly trodden upon by man and beast, owing partly to the length of his body and partly to his being unable to raise himself above the surface of the ground: so he went and complained to about the risks to which he was expose...
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Public-domain original
A Snake suffered a good deal from being constantly trodden upon by man
and beast, owing partly to the length of his body and partly to his
being unable to raise himself above the surface of the ground: so
he went and complained to about the risks to which he was
exposed. But Jupiter had little sympathy for him. "I dare say," said
he, "that if you had bitten the first that trod on you, the others
would have taken more trouble to look where they put their feet."
Public-domain original text shown for study context. Underlined terms can be tapped for simple reader notes.
What happens here
A short fable about The Snake and Jupiter 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 Snake: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- Jupiter: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
A Snake suffered a good deal from being constantly trodden upon by man and beast, owing partly to the length of his body and partly to his being unable to raise himself above the surface of the ground: so he went and complained to Jupiter about the risks to which he was exposed. But Jupiter had little sympathy for him.