1) What is the purpose of the story, as far as the storyteller is concerned? What is he or she trying to accomplish? I think the storyteller is using the story of the Ox and the Donkey as a warning of what could happen if you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong or act before you try to decide what kind of situation you could potentially put yourself in. f the donkey thought through what could possibly happen if he told the ox how to get out of working, he would have never said anything and he would still be living his better life than life of the ox. The storyteller is forewarning his daughter that there is a chance good could come out of her trying to stop the king, there is also a chance that she could end up ruining her own life just as the donkey did with his own life.

2) What, if any, is the lesson that the listener(s) take away from the story? 

The daughter or listener still insisted that she must go to marry the king after everything that her father has told her. He tried to and warned her that there is danger in rushing to conclusions and not thinking about consequences that could arise due to a poor decision. You could be doing a greater harm than good if you are not quick to realize what or why you are doing the the things you are doing, as in his daughters case, agreeing to marry the king.