Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Farmer and the Stork explained
A farmer sets traps to catch cranes that are eating his newly sown corn.
What happens
A farmer sets traps to catch cranes that are eating his newly sown corn. He catches several cranes along with a stork, which pleads for its release by claiming it is harmless and honest. The farmer refuses, stating that since it was found with the cranes, it must share their fate. The moral warns that associating with bad company makes one presumed guilty by association.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the victor Cock, swollen with pride after his triumph, is sud…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Justice and Consequence
The farmer's rigid justice punishes the stork for its company, illustrating that consequences follow from associations, not just individual actions.
- Appearance vs. Reality
The stork's claim of being harmless and honest is disregarded because its appearance among cranes overrides its true nature in the farmer's eyes.
Characters to notice
- The Farmer
Sets traps to protect his corn and judges the stork by its company.
- The Stork
Caught among cranes; pleads innocence based on its own nature but is condemned for its associations.
Key passages
“If you choose bad companions no one will believe that you are anything but bad yourself.”
If you associate with wrongdoers, people will assume you share their faults.
The moral of the fable, emphasizing the power of association over individual character.
