Indian Fairy Tales · Chapter
XXIX: The Pigeon and the Crow explained
The chapter presents the Lola Jataka, an animal fable illustrating the consequences of greed and ingratitude.
What happens
The chapter presents the Lola Jataka, an animal fable illustrating the consequences of greed and ingratitude. A pigeon kindly brings a greedy crow to a kitchen to share food, but the crow's gluttony leads to its capture and punishment by the cook. The story serves as a moral lesson, typical of Jataka tales, showing how greed leads to downfall.
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
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the sons, believing their father now possesses hidden wealth,…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Greed and Its Consequences
The crow's greed leads to its capture and punishment, illustrating the moral that greed brings ruin.
- Gratitude and Ingratitude
The pigeon shows kindness by sharing food, but the crow's ingratitude and greed result in its downfall.
Characters to notice
- The Pigeon
The kind pigeon who brings the greedy crow to the kitchen to share food.
- Mr. Crow
The greedy crow who is caught and punished for stealing fish.
- Buddha
Referenced as the future Buddha or Bodhisat, the moral exemplar in Jataka tales.
Key passages
“We began with an animal Jataka, and may appropriately finish with one which shows how effectively the writers of the Jatakas could represent animal folk, and how terribly moral they invariably were in their tales.”
The chapter ends with an animal Jataka that demonstrates the skill of Jataka writers in portraying animal characters and the strong moral lessons embedded in their stories.
Reflects on the literary and moral purpose of the Jataka tales.
