FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about So the Story Goes
Quiz about So the Story Goes

So the Story Goes Trivia Quiz


Aesop's fables are stories to teach a lesson - if I tell you how the story goes, can you choose the moral?

A multiple-choice quiz by looney_tunes. Estimated time: 6 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Literature Trivia
  6. »
  7. Authors A-C
  8. »
  9. Aesop

Author
looney_tunes
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
326,182
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
2089
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 52 (7/10), Guest 73 (7/10), heidi66 (7/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In the fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper", a grasshopper tries to convince an ant who is struggling to carry an ear of corn back to its nest that it would be better to stop and enjoy the lovely day. In the winter, as it lies on the verge of death from starvation, the grasshopper realizes its folly.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In "Androcles", a slave removes a thorn from the paw of a lion who then provides him with food until they are both captured and (eventually) sent to the arena. Despite being semi-starved, the lion recognizes Androcles and greets him like a dog. Androcles and the lion are both freed by the Emperor in recognition of their noble behavior.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In "The Bundle of Sticks", we read of an old man who summons his sons to his deathbed, and asks them to break a bundle of sticks. After they have failed, he shows them how easy it is to break the sticks one at a time after untying the bundle.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "The Dog in the Manger" snaps at the ox on whose food it was taking a nap, preventing the ox from having its dinner.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" tells of a wolf who uses the pelt of a dead sheep as a disguise in order to get close enough to the flock to enjoy a series of tasty meals.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "The Wind and the Sun" have a wager to see which can first force a traveler to remove his coat. The Wind blows and blusters, to no avail. The Sun shines, the traveler gets warm, and the coat comes off.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In "The Goose With the Golden Eggs" we read of a farmer who discovers he has a goose that lays golden eggs. Eager to get all the gold at once, rather than one egg a day, he kills the goose only to find that there is nothing special inside.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. "The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle" tells of two cocks fighting for supremacy of the barnyard. The winner flies to the top of a wall in order to celebrate his victory, where he is captured by an eagle, leaving the other cock to reign supreme.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In "The Thief and His Mother", a boy steals a book, and shows it to his mother, who praises him for his cleverness. The boy grows to pursue a life of crime before being caught and sentenced to death. Approaching the place of execution, he sees his mother, beckons her near, and bites off her ear.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "The Hare and the Tortoise" tells of the race between these two animals, ill-matched for speed. The Hare is so confident of his ability to win that he lies down for a nap, and is overtaken by the steadily-plodding tortoise.

So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?
Hint





Most Recent Scores
Oct 15 2024 : Guest 52: 7/10
Oct 13 2024 : Guest 73: 7/10
Oct 12 2024 : heidi66: 7/10
Oct 12 2024 : Erb1960: 7/10
Oct 12 2024 : Buddy1: 10/10
Oct 12 2024 : dinipie: 7/10
Oct 12 2024 : stephedm: 10/10
Oct 12 2024 : dee1304: 6/10
Oct 12 2024 : thejasman: 9/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In the fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper", a grasshopper tries to convince an ant who is struggling to carry an ear of corn back to its nest that it would be better to stop and enjoy the lovely day. In the winter, as it lies on the verge of death from starvation, the grasshopper realizes its folly. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity

This fable is a favorite of parents who want to encourage forethought in their children. It can even be applied to such situations as having spent all your allowance before the ice cream van comes around! As the grasshopper watches the ant colony distributing the food stored through so much labor while he enjoyed himself, he realizes that there was sense in thinking ahead, and being prepared for the difficult times that were in store for them all.
2. In "Androcles", a slave removes a thorn from the paw of a lion who then provides him with food until they are both captured and (eventually) sent to the arena. Despite being semi-starved, the lion recognizes Androcles and greets him like a dog. Androcles and the lion are both freed by the Emperor in recognition of their noble behavior. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Gratitude is the sign of noble souls

The Emperor pardons and frees Androcles because of his noble action in freeing the lion from pain instead of running away from the fierce wild beast in fear. As a tribute to the lion's nobility of spirit in refusing to eat the man to whom he owed a debt of gratitude, the lion was released and returned to his native land.
3. In "The Bundle of Sticks", we read of an old man who summons his sons to his deathbed, and asks them to break a bundle of sticks. After they have failed, he shows them how easy it is to break the sticks one at a time after untying the bundle. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Union gives strength

The official moral of strength in unity can also be paraphrased as 'United we stand, divided we fall', which is given as the moral of the fable "The Four Oxen and the Lion", and has been a popular motto for a variety of political causes. The fable could also be seen as encouraging lateral thinking when faced with a difficult problem.
4. "The Dog in the Manger" snaps at the ox on whose food it was taking a nap, preventing the ox from having its dinner. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Some begrudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves

While it is a good idea not to waken sleeping dogs, Aesop's moral related to the dog's selfishness in refusing to let the ox eat what would have nourished it, and which provided no sustenance for the dog. This fable has provided the phrase 'a dog in the manger' to describe someone who, like Aesop's dog, spitefully prevents others from enjoying themselves.
5. "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" tells of a wolf who uses the pelt of a dead sheep as a disguise in order to get close enough to the flock to enjoy a series of tasty meals. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Appearances can be deceptive

This fable is the origin of the phrase 'a wolf in sheep's clothing', usually used in the same sense as here. There is another fable of the same name, in which the wolf hides with the sheep in their pen, and is selected (and subsequently eaten) when the farmer grabs a sheep to cook in the middle of the night.

The moral of this version is 'Harm seek, harm find' - if you seek to do harm, it is likely that harm will be done to you.
6. "The Wind and the Sun" have a wager to see which can first force a traveler to remove his coat. The Wind blows and blusters, to no avail. The Sun shines, the traveler gets warm, and the coat comes off. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Kindness effects more than severity

The moral of this tale could equally be not to make foolish bets! Had the Wind bet on which one could make the traveler put on his hat, scarf and gloves, it would have had a chance. Another version of the fable, "The North Wind and the Sun", words the moral as 'Persuasion is better than force'.
7. In "The Goose With the Golden Eggs" we read of a farmer who discovers he has a goose that lays golden eggs. Eager to get all the gold at once, rather than one egg a day, he kills the goose only to find that there is nothing special inside. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Greed oft o'er reaches itself

Alternative morals are also given as 'Greed destroys the source of good', 'Those who want too much lose everything', and 'Think before you act'. In the 1971 film "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", Willie Wonka demonstrates a goose that lays gold-wrapped chocolate eggs, a goose of which he takes excellent care!
8. "The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle" tells of two cocks fighting for supremacy of the barnyard. The winner flies to the top of a wall in order to celebrate his victory, where he is captured by an eagle, leaving the other cock to reign supreme. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Pride goes before destruction

Aesop is not the only source for this moral lesson. The biblical "Book of Proverbs" tells us (Chapter 16, verse 18) that 'Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall' (King James Version). This is often paraphrased as 'pride goes before a fall'.

The overconfident and arrogant pride demonstrated in this fable is often termed 'hubris', although the ancient Greek use of that term referred to acts that were more shameful than foolish.
9. In "The Thief and His Mother", a boy steals a book, and shows it to his mother, who praises him for his cleverness. The boy grows to pursue a life of crime before being caught and sentenced to death. Approaching the place of execution, he sees his mother, beckons her near, and bites off her ear. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Spare the rod and spoil the child

When the mother calls her son an ingrate, he replies that his doom is all her fault - had she punished him for his first theft, he would never have been seduced into the life that led to his downfall. This moral is in sharp contrast to many of the others, in which personal responsibility for one's actions is encouraged.

The fable "The Lark Burying Her Father" carries the moral 'Youth's first duty is reverence to parents'. Clearly, it's important to choose your fables carefully to make the desired point.
10. "The Hare and the Tortoise" tells of the race between these two animals, ill-matched for speed. The Hare is so confident of his ability to win that he lies down for a nap, and is overtaken by the steadily-plodding tortoise. So the story goes - and what is the moral to be learned?

Answer: Slow but steady wins the race

This well-known fable has been the inspiration for a number of cartoons, including three Looney Tunes cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny and Cecil Turtle - "Tortoise Beats Hare" (1941), "Tortoise wins By a Hare" (1943), and "Rabbit Transit" (1947). 'Hare today, goon tomorrow' is the moral for a children's song about Little Bunny Foo Foo, who bops field mice on the head until the Good Fairy turns him into a goon as a punishment for his behavior. 'You snooze, you lose' is used as a snappy contemporary warning to stay on one's toes in a competitive environment.
Source: Author looney_tunes

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
This quiz is part of series Commission #9:

...'so what?' Another Commission? This ninth Commission asked our authors to write a quiz with 'So' in the title, simply to ask what could be done. This one dates back to May 2010.

  1. Blame Canada Average
  2. Anyone for Tennis Average
  3. Don't Ask Tough
  4. Down Under Average
  5. Yours Truly, Yours Falsely Average
  6. So the Story Goes Average
  7. Ten Days That Shook the World Average
  8. Do Animals Get Insomnia? Easier
  9. Getting the Score Average
  10. Not Possible Average
  11. Missionary Position Average
  12. Fifteen Minutes Is All It Took Easier

Also part of quiz list
10/31/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us