Section 224
The Wasp and the Snake explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Wasp settled on the head of a Snake, and not only stung him several times, but clung obstinately to the head of his victim. Maddened with pain the Snake tried every means he could think of to get rid of the creature, but without success. At last he became desperate, and cryi...
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Public-domain original
A Wasp settled on the head of a Snake, and not only stung him several
times, but clung obstinately to the head of his victim. Maddened with
pain the Snake tried every means he could think of to get rid of
the creature, but without success. At last he became desperate, and
crying, "Kill you I will, even at the cost of my own life," he laid
his head with the Wasp on it under the wheel of a passing waggon, and
they both perished together.
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A Wasp settled on the head of a Snake, and not only stung him several times, but clung obstinately to the head of his victim.
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 Wasp: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Snake: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
A Wasp settled on the head of a Snake, and not only stung him several times, but clung obstinately to the head of his victim. Maddened with pain the Snake tried every means he could think of to get rid of the creature, but without success.