AESOP     The author of Aesop’s Fables was a Greek slave who lived about 620—560 B.C.   Later he received his freedom and became known for his stories.   He told these fables to teach lessons, warn of bad decisions or give wise advice about life.   For over 300 years these stories were passed along by word of mouth.   They weren’t written down until around 300 B.C. and by then no one knew which were written by Aesop and which were added.   The only details we have about Aesop’s life come from comments and hints by later writers like Plato Aristotle and Herodotus.   Aesop’s Fables have been translated into many languages, and many cultures identify with the lessons found in these stories.

MEMORY TRIGGERS     Aesop                                                                                                                                              fables                                                                                                                                               slave                                                                                                                                                 lessons                                                                                                                                             word of mouth                                                                                                                                  written down                                                                                                                                    Plato                                                                                                                                                Copyrighted 2005 by Carl Peterson.