FABLE LVII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
A strong Eagle lived on a high rock. It watched the land below. It soared in the sky. It looked down below. It flew down fast. It saw a small lamb. The Eagle grabbed the lamb. It flew up to the sky. It was very strong.
A Jackdaw sat on a tall tree. It saw the Eagle fly. It watched the Eagle take the lamb. The Jackdaw was a small black bird. The Eagle was big and strong. The Jackdaw watched closely. It wished it was big.
The Jackdaw thought, "I can do that." It wanted to be like the Eagle. It wanted to be big. It wanted to be strong. It wanted to fly high. The Jackdaw was silly. It made a big mistake.
The Jackdaw flew down low. It saw a big ram. The ram had much soft wool. The Jackdaw landed on its back. It put its feet down. It held on tight.
The ram's wool was very thick. The Jackdaw's claws went deep in. Its feet got stuck fast. It could not pull them out. The wool held it tight. The Jackdaw was trapped. It felt very scared.
The Jackdaw flapped its black wings. It made a loud noise. It tried to fly up. It could not move. It was stuck tight. It was not strong. It could not get free.
A Shepherd was near the ram. He heard the loud noise. He saw the big ram. He saw the struggling bird. He walked to the ram. He wanted to help.
The Shepherd saw the bird. Its feet were in the wool. He picked up the Jackdaw. It was very easy. The bird could not fly away. It was held fast. It could not escape.
The Shepherd had two boys. He showed them the bird. "Look at this bird," he said. He told them about the ram. The boys looked at the Jackdaw. They saw its stuck feet. They understood the story.
The Shepherd said, "This bird was silly." "It tried to be a big Eagle." "But it is a small Jackdaw." "It cannot carry a lamb." "Know what you can do." "Be happy with yourself."
Original Story
FABLE LVII.
THE JACKDAW AND THE EAGLE.
An Eagle flew down from the top of a high rock, and settled upon the back of a lamb, and then, instantly flying up into the air again, bore his bleating prize aloft in his talons. A Jackdaw, who sat upon an elm, and beheld his exploit, resolved to imitate it. So, flying upon the back of a ram, and entangling his claws in the wool, he fell a-chattering and attempting to fly; by which means he drew the observation of the shepherd upon him, who, finding his feet hampered in the fleece of the ram, easily took him, and gave him to his boys for their sport and diversion, saying, "The silly bird thought he was an Eagle; but, no doubt, by this time he has found out he is but a Jackdaw."
MORAL.
A false estimate of our own abilities ever exposes us to ridicule, and often to danger.
THE JACKDAW AND THE EAGLE.
Story DNA
Moral
A false estimate of our own abilities ever exposes us to ridicule, and often to danger.
Plot Summary
An Eagle demonstrates its natural hunting prowess by snatching a lamb. A Jackdaw, witnessing this feat, foolishly attempts to imitate the Eagle by trying to carry off a ram. Its claws become entangled in the ram's wool, leading to its capture by a shepherd. The shepherd then gives the struggling Jackdaw to his boys for amusement, highlighting the bird's mistaken belief in its own abilities.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often use animal characters to satirize human behavior and convey moral lessons, a tradition dating back to Aesop.
Plot Beats (10)
- An Eagle descends from a high rock, seizes a lamb, and flies away with it.
- A Jackdaw observes this impressive act from an elm tree.
- The Jackdaw decides to mimic the Eagle's exploit.
- The Jackdaw flies onto the back of a ram.
- The Jackdaw's claws become entangled in the ram's wool.
- The Jackdaw struggles to fly and makes a chattering noise.
- A shepherd notices the struggling bird.
- The shepherd easily captures the Jackdaw.
- The shepherd gives the Jackdaw to his boys for entertainment.
- The shepherd comments that the Jackdaw mistakenly thought it was an Eagle, but now knows it is just a Jackdaw.
Characters
The Eagle
A large, powerful bird of prey, with a broad wingspan and strong, sharp talons. Its body is robust and muscular, built for hunting and carrying heavy prey.
Attire: Natural plumage of dark brown feathers, possibly with lighter golden-brown feathers on the nape and shoulders, providing camouflage and insulation.
Wants: To hunt and secure food for itself, demonstrating its natural prowess.
Flaw: None apparent in the story; it is depicted as a creature of pure capability.
Serves as an example of natural power and skill, unchanging.
Powerful, efficient, predatory, confident, skilled.
The Jackdaw
A small to medium-sized bird, significantly smaller than an eagle, with a slender build. Its body is covered in glossy black feathers.
Attire: Natural plumage of glossy black feathers, often with a slight greyish tint on the nape and sides of the head, giving it a distinctive appearance.
Wants: To emulate the perceived power and success of the Eagle, driven by a desire for similar glory or ability.
Flaw: Overestimation of its own abilities, lack of self-awareness, vanity.
Begins as an ambitious imitator, ends as a ridiculed and captured bird, learning a harsh lesson about its limitations.
Imitative, ambitious (beyond its means), foolish, overconfident, clumsy when attempting something it's not suited for.
The Shepherd
A sturdy, practical man, likely of average height and build, accustomed to outdoor life. His hands would be calloused from working with sheep.
Attire: Simple, durable clothing suitable for a rural worker. Likely a tunic or smock made of coarse linen or wool in earthy tones (brown, grey, undyed), possibly with a leather belt. Sturdy trousers or breeches and practical, worn leather boots. Perhaps a simple felt or straw hat to protect from the sun.
Wants: To tend his flock, maintain order, and perhaps find amusement in the natural world.
Flaw: None apparent in the story; he acts as a figure of common sense.
A static character who serves to deliver the moral of the fable.
Observant, practical, discerning, amused, authoritative (over his boys).
Locations
High Rock
A tall, prominent rock formation from which an eagle descends.
Mood: lofty, wild, powerful
The eagle's initial descent and capture of the lamb.
Pastoral Field with Elm Tree
An open field where a lamb and ram graze, featuring a prominent elm tree where the Jackdaw observes.
Mood: peaceful, observant, later chaotic
The Jackdaw's observation of the eagle, and its subsequent failed attempt to imitate.