Aesop’s FablesAesop’s Fables

May 2008 May 2008

Reading ClubReading Club

OutlineOutline1.1. Aesop’s LifeAesop’s Life2.2. IllustrationsIllustrations3.3. Fable I:Fable I:4.4. What Is A Fable? List some features.What Is A Fable? List some features.5.5. Fable II:Fable II:6.6. Influence on Western cultureInfluence on Western culture7.7. Fable III:Fable III:8.8. Interactions between East and WestInteractions between East and West9.9. Fable IV:Fable IV:10.10. Conclusion: more than one dimensionsConclusion: more than one dimensions

Aesop’s LifeAesop’s Life Archaic GreekArchaic Greek Ancient (ca. 620-560 B.C.E.)Ancient (ca. 620-560 B.C.E.) by birth a slave. (p.s. or not exist)by birth a slave. (p.s. or not exist) He was owned by two masters in succession, He was owned by two masters in succession,

both inhabitants of Samos, Xanthus and Jadboth inhabitants of Samos, Xanthus and Jadmon, the latter of whom gave him his liberty mon, the latter of whom gave him his liberty as a reward for his learning and wit. as a reward for his learning and wit.

MoreMore wikipedia: wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aesop%27s_Fables&printable=yesop%27s_Fables&printable=yes

IllustrationsIllustrations

Fable I: The Wolf and the Fable I: The Wolf and the Lamb Lamb Wolf, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, rWolf, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, r

esolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to finesolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right d some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him: "Sirrah, last yeto eat him. He thus addressed him: "Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the ar you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf, "You feed in my pasturborn." Then said the Wolf, "You feed in my pasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet e." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of mtasted grass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet dray well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is both food nk water, for as yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me." Upon which the Wolf seized hiand drink to me." Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, "Well! I won't remain sum and ate him up, saying, "Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my ipperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations." The tyrant will always find a pretext mputations." The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny. for his tyranny.

What Is A Fable? What Is A Fable?

List some features.List some features.

11

Conveying instructionConveying instruction

22

Convey a hidden and secret Convey a hidden and secret meaning/ the reproof veiledmeaning/ the reproof veiled

33Skillful instruction of Skillful instruction of fictitious characterfictitious character

44

Inoculate some moral maxim, social Inoculate some moral maxim, social duty, or political truthduty, or political truth

55

Superiority of the counselorSuperiority of the counselor

66Fabulist = a great teacherFabulist = a great teacher

77

Censor of vice and commander of Censor of vice and commander of virtuevirtue

88To create a laughTo create a laugh

Originated in Originated in Greece in an Greece in an

intention travesty intention travesty of human affair of human affair 99

1010

One simple action, not over-laden One simple action, not over-laden with a multiplicity of detailswith a multiplicity of details

Humble incidents to teach great Humble incidents to teach great truth truth

1111

Animals and their natural attributes Animals and their natural attributes universal popular consent universal popular consent

Anthropomorphic Anthropomorphic animalsanimals

1212

Fable II: Fable II: The Bat and the The Bat and the WeaselsWeasels

A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped. escaped. It is wise to turn circumstances to good account. It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

Influence on Western Influence on Western CultureCulture

Story-tellingStory-telling Children literatureChildren literature Fable and allegoryFable and allegory Christianity/ cf. Jesus’ FablesChristianity/ cf. Jesus’ Fables The distribution of ChristianityThe distribution of Christianity to to

China and Asian countriesChina and Asian countries

Fable III: Fable III: The Ant and the The Ant and the GrasshopperGrasshopper

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and In a field one hopping about, chirping and In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the "Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?" that way?"

"I am helping my family to lay up food for the "I am helping my family to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same." do the same."

And . . .And . . .

"Why bother about winter?" said the "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "we have got plenty of food at Grasshopper; "we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. continued its toil.

When the winter came the Grasshopper had When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of It is best to prepare for the days of necessity. necessity.

Interactions between East Interactions between East and Westand West

Translation and transmissionTranslation and transmission Adaptation and rewritingAdaptation and rewriting Animal allegoriesAnimal allegories Cultural intersectionsCultural intersections

Fable IV: Fable IV: The Lion and the The Lion and the MouseMouse A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse

running over his face. Rising up angrily, hrunning over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, whe caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying:en the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would b "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion lae sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly ughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by st ropes to the hunters, who bound him by st ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, cground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his teeth, and seame gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaim t him free, exclaim

And . . .And . . .

"You ridiculed the idea of my "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; I any repayment of your favor; I now you know that it is possible now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to con for even a Mouse to con benefits on a Lion." benefits on a Lion."

Conclusion: More than one Conclusion: More than one dimensiondimension

One-dimensional ManOne-dimensional Man Fables and multiple readingsFables and multiple readings more than moral teachingsmore than moral teachings Life and wisdomLife and wisdom Keen observation Keen observation Word and worldWord and world