Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Tunny-Fish and the Dolphin explained
A Tunny-fish, chased by a Dolphin, flees at great speed but both end up stranded on a sandbank.
What happens
A Tunny-fish, chased by a Dolphin, flees at great speed but both end up stranded on a sandbank. As they lie gasping, the Tunny finds solace in knowing that his pursuer will share his fate.
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 Rising 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 Dolphin's pursuit leads to its own downfall, illustrating that the aggressor may share the victim's fate.
Characters to notice
- The Dolphins
Chases the Tunny-fish but becomes stranded alongside it.
- The Sprat
The Tunny-fish is the protagonist who, though doomed, finds comfort in shared fate.
Key passages
“I don’t mind having to die now: for I see that he who is the cause of my death is about to share the same fate.”
The Tunny accepts death because his enemy will die too.
The Tunny finds grim consolation in mutual destruction.
