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Aarne-Thompson type 57, Aesop's Fables, Arthur Rackam, Gutenberg Project, John Rae, La Fontaine, Milo Winter, Perry Index 104
The Raven and the Fox, illustrated by John Rae [EBook #24108]
Classification:
Perry Index: 104 Aarne-Thompson type 57 Related narratives: Aarne-Thompson Text(e): Le Corbeau et le Renard (1.I.2) The Raven and the Fox (1.I.2) or The Fox and the Crow Images are not to be removed from this post as proper credit may not be given. Photo credit: John Rae [EBook #24108]; Milo Winter [EBook #19994]; Arthur Rackham [EBook #11339]
The Raven and the Fox,- illustrated by John Rae
- [EBook #24108]
A definition of Fables
“Fables are among the oldest forms of folk literature. The word “fable” comes from the Latin “fabula” (“little story”). Typically, a fable consists of a narrative and a short moral conclusion at the end. The main characters in most fables are animals. The purpose of these stories is to ridicule negative human qualities.” http://www.worldoftales.com/fables.html
The Raven and the Fox, illustrated by Milo Winter [EBook #19994]
Perched on a lofty oak, Sir Raven held a lunch of cheese; Sir Fox, who smelt it in the breeze, Thus to the holder spoke: “Ha! how do you do, Sir Raven? Well, your coat, sir, is a brave one! So black and glossy, on my word, sir, With voice to match, you were a bird, sir, Well fit to be the Phoenix of these days.” Sir Raven, overset with praise, Must show how musical his croak. Down fell the luncheon from the oak; Which snatching up, Sir Fox thus spoke: “The flatterer, my good sir, Aye lives on his listener; Which lesson, if you please, Is doubtless worth the cheese.” A bit too late, Sir Raven swore The rogue should never cheat him more.The Moral
“The flatterer, my good sir, Aye lives on his listener[.]” (Sir Fox)In this post, I will focus on the moral of this fable. The moral is explicit. Sir Fox is quoted in full. Flattery, on the part of the fox, fools the raven/crow into singing and, as he sings, he lets go of his piece of cheese. By the way, in European beast literature, animals usually eat cheese, honey and ham.
However, it so happens that the French translation for blackmail is le chantage. Sir Fox fait chanter le corbeau (makes the raven sing) and manages to convince a rather vain Sir Raven or Crow to sing or to “crow.” The cheese falls to the ground. Now that cheese was Sir Crow’s dinner. Sir Crow’s loss is therefore significant.
Conclusion
So what we have seen is how a fable can shape a language. Chances are that the word ‘chantage’ is not rooted in our fable (faire chanter), but there is a strong likelihood that it is. For instance, we now hear people say a “perfect storm,” without referring to the 2000 film based on Sebastian Junger‘s non-fictional account of events. In this case, events were fictionalized into a film and the title of the film is entering the English language and may remain a useful but uninformed English-language metaphor.
Moreover, in Le Poète et le Roi; Jean de La Fontaine en son siècle (Paris: Fallois, 1997), a book about La Fontaine, Marc Fumaroli, the most prominent member of the Académie française, wrote “to know how far one can go too far” (“savoir jusqu’où on peut aller trop loin”), without using quotation marks and without naming his source: Jean Cocteau (5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963). The clever expression is therefore entering the French language and, a few years from now, people might not know who coined the expression.
For those of us who also speak English, the word “crow” is significant. When Sir Raven or Crow opens his mouth, he does not sing, he “crows,” which is not flattering. Could that be rooted in the “Fox and Crow?” To crow suggests a degree of boastfulness. Remember that “Æsopian” fables entered England, at least in part, when printer and translator William Caxton (ca. 1415~1422 – ca. March 1492) printed the Latin fables of Avianus and then translated them, naming his collection The Fables of Avian. Avian’s translation of Æsop’s fables into Latin was a favourite and was rooted in both the Latin and the Greek traditions: Phædrus (Latin) and Babrius (Greek). (See “The Cock and the Pearl:” La Fontaine cont’d [michelinewalker.com]).
We know that La Fontaine is writing about humans because he calls his protagonists “Sir” (Maître or Monsieur). Moreover, we may have uncovered the origin of the word chantage as well as an instance of unsuccessful chantage (blackmail), a deceiver-deceived narrative: trompeur trompé.
But I must go!
Kalilah wa Dimna (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Sources
The Fables of Pilpay (online) EN Les Fables de Pilpay ou la Conduite des roys (online) FR http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5674720s http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/oxford/104.htm Related narratives: Aarne-Thompson- “The Cock and the Pearl:” La Fontaine cont’d
- The Fox and Crane, or Stork
- “Le Chêne et le Roseau” (The Oak and the Reed): the Moral
- La Fontaine’s Fables Compiled & Walter Crane
Le Corbeau et le Renard, illustrated by Arthur Rackham- [EBook #11339]
Le Corbeau et le Renard
Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché, Tenait en son bec un fromage. Maître Renard, par l’odeur alléché, Lui tint à peu près ce langage : “Et ! bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau. Que vous êtes joli ! que vous me semblez beau ! Sans mentir, si votre ramage (the way he talks) Se rapporte à votre plumage, (your feathers) Vous êtes le Phénix des hôtes de ces bois. ” À ces mots, le Corbeau ne se sent pas de joie ; Et pour montrer sa belle voix, (voice) Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa proie. Le Renard s’en saisit, et dit : “Mon bon Monsieur, Apprenez que tout flatteur Vit aux dépens de celui qui l’écoute Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage, sans doute. ” Le Corbeau honteux et confus Jura, mais un peu tard, qu’on ne l’y prendrait plus.
Le Corbeau et le Renard, illustrated by John Rae- [EBook #24108]
© Micheline Walker
24 October 2013
WordPress
The Raven and the Fox, illustrated by John Rae
[EBook #24108]
1. A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine, Percy J. Billinghurst
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25357/25357-h/25357-h.htm
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25357/25357-h/25357-h.htm#Page_60
[EBook #25357]
2. The Fables of La Fontaine, Elizur Wright, J. W. M. Gibbs, 1882 [1841]
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/8ffab10h.htm (Fable 2)
“The Raven and the Fox”
[EBook #7241] (1882)
3. The Fables of La Fontaine, Walter Thornbury, transl. Gustave Doré, ill.http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50316/50316-h/50316-h.htm [EBook #50316] (1886) 4. Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks, From the French of La Fontaine W.T. (William Trowbridge) Larned (transl.), John Rae, ill. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24108/24108-h/24108-h.htm [EBook #24108] (1918)
Photo credit: Site officiel
1. V. S. Vernon Jones (transl.), G. K. Chesterton, Arthur Rackham (ill.)
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11339/11339-h/11339-h.htm#036
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11339/11339-h/11339-h.htm
“The Fox and the Crow”
[EBook #11339] (1912)
2. Harrison Weir, John Tenniel and Ernest Griset, illustrators
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18732/18732-h/18732-h.htm
“The Fox and the Crow”
[EBook #18732]
3. The Æsop for Children, Milo Winter, illustrator
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo_Winter
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19994/19994-h/19994-h.htm
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19994/19994-h/19994-h.htm#Page_101
“The Fox and the Crow”
[EBook #19994] (1919)
Micheline's Blog 
An enjoyable analysis, Micheline. Language is such a fascinating topic, and I love ones that involve story. I would add only one point.
If Boehner really cared about the country, he would have been doing his job instead of trying almost fifty times to undo the Affordable Healthcare Act, which was legally passed by the house, the senate, the president, and was ruled legitimate by the Supreme Court. After his efforts to submarine this law failed, he hold the whole country hostage at the risk of ruining his country’s reputation and the world economy, at the cost to the US of 300 million dollars a day. If it was a game of chicken, Boehner lost not because he cared about the fate of the country, but because he knew it was backfiring and ruining the his political party’s reputation (as well it ought). So glad he is the one who has to eat crow.
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Dear Naomi,
I had to make small changes. Sometimes, an earlier draft gets published, instead of the final copy. At any rate, it has now be repaired. One can’t tell for sure, but I am almost certain that chantage (blackmail) is a word derived from the Fox and Crow. What better source could there have been. Metaphors such as the “perfect storm” do not always remain, but some do.
It may seem strange, but if one fictionalizes the debt-ceiling crisis, it is somehow easier to understand.
In Quebec we have words that are not French. For instance, if someone or something is “magané(e),” that person or thing is in very poor shape. But I could not trace the word to anything. I woke up one morning, and there was my source: the English word “mangled.” If one develops the right instinct, one can make linguistic discoveries. Thank you for writing. Take good care of yourself. Micheline
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Dear Micheline,
Well said! Thanks for another great post, and for the chance to “chat” today.
Warmly,
Naomi
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Naomi, You’re brilliant. Boehner never, not for one second thought of the welfare of his nation. He disgraced himself. So, let him eat crow. If one combines French and English, we have the complete story. Some of us were very afraid and I am certain President Obama was afraid. In fact, I was afraid someone would kill the President and the President himself had to face that grim possibility, which could explain why he put Joe Biden, the Vice-President, under the Witness Protection Programme. Americans knew they were being manipulated and I hope they remember. Some even stopped buying. Yes, let him eat crow.
In the Middle Ages, students memorized the Ysopet-Avionnet and fable 15 is “Du Renart et du Corbel.” The Crow (Corbel) is called Tiercelin, the name of Reynard the Fox’s crow. That piece of information is contained in the part of the post I had to exclude. So I will now write (it’s in draft form) the second post. I could not tell that story in one post.
To eat crow. Brilliant!
Love,
Micheline
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Thank you, Micheline! I like this fable so much that I actually used it–or rather a strong reference to it–in my novel, The Keeper of the Crystal Spring.
Love,
Naomi
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These fables are a treasure. They are multi-layered texts. I will read your novel.
Thank you Naomi
Love,
Micheline
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Dear Micheline,
I hope you like it!
Love,
Naomi
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Naomi,
I’m sure I will.
Love,
Micheline
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I love your explanation of the words chantage and blackmail. The link seems entirely credible.
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Gallivanta,
Such things are difficult to prove, but they make sense. Unless someone comes up with a more plausible link, the Fox makes the Crow sing (faire chanter) which is “chantage,” because the Fox wants the cheese. Nowadays, we would call it extortion. Yes, it’s entirely credible. Students had to memorize that fable and it was told and retold. Everyone knew it. All I can say is that it makes sense. I hope you are well Gallivanta. Love, Micheline
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