reading notes: Aesop's Fables (Jacobs) A

 1. LIONS pt 2

        autobiography: Jacobs 71, The Lion in Love. The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs (1894)

        I enjoyed The Lion in Love. He was asked to change himself (remove claws and teeth)  which basically stripped him of what a lion is and capable of. He did what was asked of him, expecting to be able to marry the maiden he fell in love with. But the family was originally fearful of him and when he came back without claws and teeth, they laughed in his face and mocked him for not being able to attack them. (love can tame the wildest)

2. FOXES pt 1

        autobiography: Jacobs 19. The Fox and the Stork. The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs (1894)

        I liked the theme of karma in this story. The fox thinks he is clever and witty by providing a dinner only he can enjoy (a shallow bowl with soup). He thinks he has an advantage over the stork and probably didn't think that the stork would fire back. But the stork invited the fox over for dinner and only provided a meal that the stork could enjoy (long neck bottle with small mouth opening). I think this is a great example of just because you have an advantage, doesn't mean you should use it and hold it over someone else, because they also could have something that'll knock you down. 

        autobiography: Jacobs 31. The Fox and the Grapes. The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs (1894)

        The ending line, "it is easy to despise what you cannot get" really caught my attention. It made me reread the story and understand in a different way. Just because is difficult or unpleasant to do, doesn't mean you should stop and give up. The fox really wanted the grapes but after only a few attempts, he stomped away with an attitude and called them sour. I feel this has an easy connection to students in school and applying to grad schools. School isn't always easy or pleasant, but you still have to try, fail, try again, etc. And if you can't get it, you try a different learning technique, process, or you can ask a friend, you don't give up and walk away from it. 

3. WOLVES

        autobiography: Jacobs 39. The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs (1894)

    This is a tale that I think almost everyone already knows. The wolf can't get close enough to attack his prey without being seen, he finds an old discarded skin, throws it on top of himself and then approaches the herd of animals. Soon, one follows him away from the pack and he has his meal. I think this can be easily flipped into the human world- people will pretend to be something and trick you into believing it and then end up hurting you and moving to do it again (toxic relationships).

4. DOGS AND CATS 

        autobiography: Jacobs 38. The Fox and the Cat. The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs (1894)

    Sometimes it's easier to do the one easy thing, than overcomplicate, overthink, overanalyze several options. Boasting about everything  that you have or that you can do isn't always an advantage. It is important to be able to apply what you know to what you are doing. 

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. Source: PickPik