Characters :  Fir Tree: Symbolizes pride, status, and arrogance. Bramble: Represents humility, practicality, and foresight. Summary : The Fir-tree looks down upon the Bramble and takes pride in its superior status. But, when the sound of the axe rings out, the Fir-tree realizes that having pride of place comes with its own set of disadvantages. In a moment of regret, the Fir-tree wishes to be like the Bramble. You can listen to the fable, here: Analysis : The moral of this story is that pride comes before a fall. The Fir-tree, who looked down upon the Bramble, is humbled by the sound of an axe. The story shows that even the most elevated status can be fleeting, and that the lowly Bramble has its own strengths. The story invites us to be humble and to recognize that everyone has their own unique gifts and talents. When we compare ourselves to others, we may miss out on the beauty of our own individuality. Additionally, the story highlights the importance of empathy and understanding...

Summary : The fable tells the story of a Cat who was so adept at catching Mice that they stayed hidden in their dens for fear of being eaten. In order to outsmart the Mice, the Cat pretends to be dead by hanging from a shelf, causing the Mice to come out and celebrate what they think is the Cat's demise. However, the Cat quickly pounces and catches several Mice as soon as they emerge. The Cat, still hungry for more Mice, then disguises itself in flour in a bin to lure them out. A wise old Rat recognizes the danger and warns the Mice to stay away, teaching them to be cautious and not fall for the Cat's tricks again. Analysis : This fable by Aesop illustrates the theme of using one's wits to avoid falling for deception and being cautious of apparent dangers. The Cat represents cunning and trickery, while the Mice symbolize those who are easily deceived due to their lack of awareness and vigilance. The story teaches the importance of being wise, alert, and discerning in order ...

THIS IS A SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS  on the fable written by Walter Crane  called " KING LOG & KING STORK"  in his book THE  BABY’S  OWN  ÆSOP,  BEING THE FABLES CONDENSED IN RHYME  WITH PORTABLE MORALS.  The story is based on the well known as fable " The Frogs who wished for a King ", for which I've already posted a summary and analysis and you can read on the link above. The fable Summary The frogs request a king from Jove, hoping for a more dynamic leader than a log. - Jove sends them a Stork, who rules over them, but instead of benevolently leading, he devours the frogs, showcasing the consequences of desiring a powerful ruler. - The fable concludes with the lesson that having kings can lead to disastrous outcomes. Analysis The fable reflects on the dangers of authoritarian rule and the negative consequences of placing blind faith in a single individual to govern. - It questions the notion of kingship and challenges traditional pow...

 Don't miss my new video on YouTube, about the great Greek fabulist! As appeared in Project Gutenberg “Aesop's Fables” , Translated by George Fyler Townsend. The video delves into the life and history of Aesop, a renowned Greek fabulist. Born around 620 B.C. as a slave, Aesop gained freedom through his wit and wisdom. He traveled widely, encountering prominent figures like Croesus and philosophers such as Solon and Thales. Aesop's fables were used diplomatically to reconcile conflicts in various Greek cities, but his refusal to bribe the Delphians resulted in his unjust execution. Despite his tragic end, Aesop was posthumously honored with a statue in Athens. These established facts stand in contrast to earlier, fictitious accounts of Aesop's life, discredited by later scholarship. French scholar M. Mezeriac's meticulous research in the 17th century shed light on the true story of Aesop, separating fact from fiction perpetuated by earlier accounts, such as the unre...

  Summary The fable "The Boy and the Scorpion" is about a boy who is hunting for locusts and mistakes a scorpion for a locust. The scorpion warns the boy not to touch him, as he will lose all of his locusts if he does.  The fable Analysis The moral lesson of this fable is that it is important to be able to distinguish between different things in life to avoid making mistakes that could harm you or cause you to lose everything you have worked hard to obtain. This fable teaches us not to be too hasty in our actions and to be careful not to mistake one thing for another. It also encourages us to be more aware of our surroundings and to pay attention to the details, so that we can avoid making costly mistakes.

 In Ivan Turgenev's short story "Two Rich Men," the author contrasts the philanthropy of the wealthy Rothschild with the selfless generosity of a poor peasant family. While Rothschild is praised for his financial contributions, the story highlights the humble actions of the peasant family who took in an orphan niece despite their own poverty. The family's willingness to sacrifice for the orphan emphasizes a deeper sense of compassion that surpasses the wealth of Rothschild. Listen to this short story:

 The Oriental stories by the Greek author Philindas Menos, are short humorous stories published in 1931. Philindas Menos says that they are stories that he head at different times from various people, living in the Eastern countries, which he collected and finally published in this small book called "Oriental stories".  To the story: THE LOAN The Grand Vizier Ali Pasha once wanted to come to an agreement with the ambassador of France so that Turkey could obtain a loan from France to establish a bank and build roads. -I am very much afraid, said the Frenchman, that you are making a beeline for Banqueroutte (bankruptcy). And Ali-Pasha replied, smiling mischievously: -But that's why we want the loan, your Excellency, for Banque et route (for bank and roads). And so, with his wit, he obtained the loan. (Translated in English by Naya Nomikou, on August 01, 2023) Copyright ©  2023 -  Νάγια Νομικού If you wish you can listen to the story in Greek on the following link. Turn...