Paired Texts > The Fisherman and His Wife

Aesop was a slave and story-teller who was believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BCE. This story, in which a man becomes greedily obsessed with a goose that lays golden eggs, is part of his collection of tales known as "Aesop's Fables" which have influenced children's literature and modern storytelling culture.

In "The Necklace," a poor woman borrows an expensive necklace for a fancy ball. When the necklace goes missing, the woman and her husband spend years living in poverty in order to pay back the debt.

A rousing poem celebrating Columbus's perseverance even when success was far from certain. 

In the Grimm brothers' version of the classic folktale, "Little Red Riding Hood," a young girl disobeys her mother and strays from the path on her way to her grandmother's house, resulting in an unfortunate encounter with a wolf.

In "The Third Wish," Joan Aiken tells the story of a man who asks for three wishes after rescuing the King of the Forest.

In the Brothers Grimm's classic tale "Snow White," a beautiful girl flees to escape a jealous queen.

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