Aesop and His FablesAesop and His Fables

The Cultural Legacy of the The Cultural Legacy of the StorytellerStoryteller

Was Aesop a real person?Was Aesop a real person? We don’t think so.We don’t think so. It is more likely that his name is It is more likely that his name is

applied to an entire group of ancient applied to an entire group of ancient storytellers and their lives.storytellers and their lives.

The stories were not written down until The stories were not written down until centuries after they were first told.centuries after they were first told.

His personal history may be a legend His personal history may be a legend that blends the lifestyle and work of all that blends the lifestyle and work of all the ancient storytellers into one the ancient storytellers into one person.person.

How old are fables?How old are fables?

In ancient In ancient Mesopotamia clay Mesopotamia clay tablets with tablets with proverbs and proverbs and fables, illustrated fables, illustrated with animals date with animals date back to 2000 B.C.back to 2000 B.C.

What is the story of Aesop?What is the story of Aesop? He was born a slave in He was born a slave in

620 B.C. , possibly in 620 B.C. , possibly in Asia Minor or Ethiopia.Asia Minor or Ethiopia.

He was taken by a He was taken by a slave trader to what is slave trader to what is now Turkey.now Turkey.

He was said to be so He was said to be so horribly ugly, no one horribly ugly, no one would buy him.would buy him.

He was then taken to He was then taken to the island of Samos the island of Samos where the where the philosopher, Xanthus, philosopher, Xanthus, bought him as a bought him as a servant for his wife.servant for his wife.

What was Aesop like?What was Aesop like?

CleverClever He could solve all manner of riddles.He could solve all manner of riddles. He played tricks and pranks on everyone, often by He played tricks and pranks on everyone, often by

pretending to be ignorant and simple-minded.pretending to be ignorant and simple-minded. He had no respect for the upper classes who put on He had no respect for the upper classes who put on

airs nor for their favored god, Apollo.airs nor for their favored god, Apollo. WiseWise

He understood what made people tick and he could He understood what made people tick and he could capture their imaginations when telling his stories.capture their imaginations when telling his stories.

That taught them to understand themselves, too.That taught them to understand themselves, too.

Sold to Iadmon Sold to Iadmon

He is said to have been sold to He is said to have been sold to Iadmon.Iadmon.

Perhaps he played too many tricks Perhaps he played too many tricks on Xanthus and his wife.on Xanthus and his wife.

Around 560 B.C., Iadmon gave him Around 560 B.C., Iadmon gave him his freedom because of his great his freedom because of his great gifts as a storyteller.gifts as a storyteller.

Messenger to a king?Messenger to a king? It is said that he served as It is said that he served as

an emissary to the an emissary to the wealthy King Croesus of wealthy King Croesus of Lydia for whom he Lydia for whom he traveled on missions all traveled on missions all across Greece.across Greece.

Croesus was so wealthy Croesus was so wealthy that we still describe that we still describe someone with a lot of someone with a lot of money and possessions as money and possessions as being as “rich as being as “rich as Croesus”.Croesus”.

How did he die?How did he die? He was aid to have died in Delphi.He was aid to have died in Delphi.

Aesop was sent by Croesus to give Aesop was sent by Croesus to give charity to the citizens.charity to the citizens.

Aesop was disgusted by their greed Aesop was disgusted by their greed and refused to distribute the money.and refused to distribute the money.

He was sentenced to death for his He was sentenced to death for his disrespect to the Delphians and the disrespect to the Delphians and the god, Apollo.god, Apollo.

His dying words were a prophesy of His dying words were a prophesy of doom for Delphi.doom for Delphi.

It is said they hurled him from a cliff-It is said they hurled him from a cliff-top.top.

How did he become a How did he become a legend?legend? It is said that after they It is said that after they

killed Aesop, the people of killed Aesop, the people of Delphi were beset with Delphi were beset with famine, disease and famine, disease and warfarewarfare

The oracle of Apollo The oracle of Apollo blamed the unjust death of blamed the unjust death of Aesop for their troubles Aesop for their troubles and ordered them to make and ordered them to make amendsamends

They built a pyramid in his They built a pyramid in his honorhonor

Why were the stories so Why were the stories so popular?popular?

The stories were really good The stories were really good observations of human nature.observations of human nature.

The stories could be used to teach the The stories could be used to teach the values of the community.values of the community.

The stories could be used to teach The stories could be used to teach people how they should act.people how they should act.

The stories could be used to teach The stories could be used to teach people what to be careful of and people what to be careful of and avoid.avoid.

When were the fables actually When were the fables actually written down?written down?

First compiled in Greece First compiled in Greece around 300 B.C., the around 300 B.C., the original no longer exists.original no longer exists.

The oldest surviving The oldest surviving collection was recorded in collection was recorded in Rome in Latin iambic verse Rome in Latin iambic verse by Phaedrus during the by Phaedrus during the first century A.D.first century A.D.

What is iambic verse?What is iambic verse?

A “foot” is the basic rhythmical unit of a A “foot” is the basic rhythmical unit of a verse line; in an iambic line, this unit verse line; in an iambic line, this unit consists of a metrically unaccented syllable consists of a metrically unaccented syllable followed by a metrically accented one.followed by a metrically accented one.

  This verse is in iambic dimeter (di means This verse is in iambic dimeter (di means two). There are two feet in each line.two). There are two feet in each line. Who knows his will?Who knows his will?

Who knows what moodWho knows what moodHis hours fulfil?His hours fulfil?His griefs conclude?His griefs conclude? (J.V. Cunningham, “Meditation on a Memoir,” 1- (J.V. Cunningham, “Meditation on a Memoir,” 1-4)4)

                                                       

The stories lived on in Greece The stories lived on in Greece and Romeand Rome

The oldest surviving Greek collection was The oldest surviving Greek collection was authored by Babrius in second century A.D.authored by Babrius in second century A.D.

Roman poet Horace first recorded one of the Roman poet Horace first recorded one of the most famous fables attributed to Aesop.most famous fables attributed to Aesop. The Town Mouse and the Country MouseThe Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

In about 400 B.C. Flavius Avianus collected In about 400 B.C. Flavius Avianus collected 42 of the fables.42 of the fables. They were very popular in medieval Europe.They were very popular in medieval Europe. They were often used as a school text.They were often used as a school text.

Where else in the world were fables Where else in the world were fables told?told?

India and the OrientIndia and the Orient The Panchatantra collection of The Panchatantra collection of

five books of animal fables and five books of animal fables and magic tales dates to between magic tales dates to between the third and fifth centuries.the third and fifth centuries.

The Jataka fables are part of The Jataka fables are part of sacred Buddhist literature, sacred Buddhist literature, telling about the lives, telling about the lives, sometimes as an animal and sometimes as an animal and sometimes as a human, of sometimes as a human, of Siddhartha Gautama, the Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha.future Buddha.

Where else in the world were fables Where else in the world were fables told?told?

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia An empire that stretched from Egypt An empire that stretched from Egypt

to Iranto Iran Persia and ArabiaPersia and Arabia

The 1001 NightsThe 1001 NightsAlso known asAlso known as The Arabian Nights The Arabian Nights

EntertainmentEntertainmentDates back 1000 yearsDates back 1000 yearsInfluenced literature of Europe Influenced literature of Europe

On to the Middle AgesOn to the Middle Ages

Der Edelstein, Der Edelstein, printed in 1461 printed in 1461 was a collection of fables was a collection of fables compiled by a Dominican compiled by a Dominican monk.monk. It is reputed to be the first book It is reputed to be the first book

published in German.published in German. Many Medieval authors wrote Many Medieval authors wrote

stories in the style of Aesop.stories in the style of Aesop. The fables and magic stories The fables and magic stories

influenced folktales and influenced folktales and fairytales of the Middle Ages fairytales of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.and the Renaissance.

What is a Fable?What is a Fable?

It is a story that:It is a story that:is short;is short;often uses animals or objects as actors;often uses animals or objects as actors;

Called allegory, these animals and objects Called allegory, these animals and objects represent ideasrepresent ideas

In In The Fox and the Grapes, The Fox and the Grapes, the grapes represent the grapes represent any unattainable goalany unattainable goal

and, illustrates a moral lesson or and, illustrates a moral lesson or teaches a truth about human behavior.teaches a truth about human behavior.

What moral lessons are found in the What moral lessons are found in the fables?fables?

Look for these Look for these lessons in the fables lessons in the fables you are about to you are about to read:read: Slow and steady Slow and steady

wins the race.wins the race. Pride comes before a Pride comes before a

fall.fall. Revenge is a two-Revenge is a two-

edged sword.edged sword. A man is known by A man is known by

the company he the company he keeps.keeps.

More MoralsMore Morals

Think twice before Think twice before you act.you act.

Be content with your Be content with your lot.lot.

When you hit back When you hit back make sure you have make sure you have got the right man.got the right man.

Once bitten, twice shyOnce bitten, twice shy Quality, not quantity.Quality, not quantity.

More and more moralsMore and more morals

Out of the frying pan Out of the frying pan into the fireinto the fire

One good turn One good turn deserves another.deserves another.

Honesty is the best Honesty is the best policy.policy.

Necessity is the Necessity is the mother of invention.mother of invention.

Do not count your Do not count your chickens before they chickens before they are hatched.are hatched.

And the moral is...And the moral is...

Look before you leap.Look before you leap. Example is better Example is better

than precept.than precept. What is worth most is What is worth most is

often valued least.often valued least. A hypocrite deceives A hypocrite deceives

no one but himself.no one but himself. Heaven helps those Heaven helps those

who help who help themselves.themselves.

Lets Explore the FablesLets Explore the FablesTake turns reading the fables aloud to Take turns reading the fables aloud to

your partner.your partner.For each fable, write:For each fable, write:

The title;The title;The moral; andThe moral; andA sentence explaining how the fable A sentence explaining how the fable

shows the moral.shows the moral.Practice reading, and prepare to Practice reading, and prepare to

read out loud to the class, one of read out loud to the class, one of your fables.your fables.

Part Two...Part Two...

Choose the moral you think is the Choose the moral you think is the most important.most important.

Write an original fable to show that Write an original fable to show that moral.moral.

Draw or create a collage to illustrate Draw or create a collage to illustrate your fable or moral.your fable or moral.

Practice reading, and prepare to read Practice reading, and prepare to read out loud to the class, your original out loud to the class, your original fable.fable.

A Final PerformanceA Final Performance

Put together the Put together the best reading best reading performances into performances into a touring a touring READERS READERS THEATER THEATER performance.performance.

How do I know all this stuff How do I know all this stuff about fables?about fables?

My source for these slides and for the fables My source for these slides and for the fables you are going to read is the book was:you are going to read is the book was: Aesops Fables, published by Barnes and Nobles, Aesops Fables, published by Barnes and Nobles,

20032003 Derived from V.S.Vernon Jones edition published by W. Derived from V.S.Vernon Jones edition published by W.

Heinemann in 1912Heinemann in 1912 I relied substantially on the Introduction and I relied substantially on the Introduction and

Notes by D.L. Ashliman.Notes by D.L. Ashliman. My example of iambic verse came fromMy example of iambic verse came from Timothy Steele - Introduction to MeterTimothy Steele - Introduction to Meter

instructional1.calstatela.edu/tsteele/TSpage5/instructional1.calstatela.edu/tsteele/TSpage5/meter.htmlmeter.html