Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Monkey as King explained
The Monkey is elected king by the animals after delighting them with his dancing.
What happens
The Monkey is elected king by the animals after delighting them with his dancing. The Fox, disgusted by this, tricks the Monkey into a trap by offering him a piece of meat, leading to the Monkey's capture and the Fox's mockery of his foolishness.
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 Exposition.
- 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
- Cunning and Deception
The Fox uses flattery and a false gift to deceive the Monkey into a trap.
- Wisdom and Foolishness
The Monkey's lack of wisdom leads him to fall for the Fox's trick, highlighting the folly of unearned authority.
Characters to notice
- The Monkey
Elected king by the animals but easily tricked by the Fox into a trap.
- The Fox
Disgusted by the Monkey's promotion, he cunningly lures the Monkey into a trap.
Key passages
“Here is a dainty morsel I have found, sire; I did not take it myself, because I thought it ought to be reserved for you, our King. Will you be pleased to accept it?”
The Fox offers the Monkey a piece of meat, claiming he saved it for the king.
The Fox uses flattery to manipulate the Monkey.
“O Monkey, you call yourself King of the Beasts and haven’t more sense than to be taken in like that!”
The Fox mocks the Monkey for being foolish despite his title.
The Fox exposes the Monkey's lack of wisdom.
