Aesop and his Fables Modified by Mrs. Reed

Aesop’s Fables Aesop is known as an ancient storyteller from Greece who might have lived around 550 BCE. If he existed, he was a slave, believed to be from Ethiopia. At a young age, he was sold the slave trade in Greece. If he existed, he did not leave behind a book of his fables. He is known to have memorized and recited his stories, otherwise known as oral tradition!   Critical Thinking: Why do you think most books and sources fail to tell us Aesop’s correct race and skin color?

What is a fable…. Fable A short fictitious (untrue) work Has a moral principle Closely related to other forms of literature, like riddles, proverbs, or fairy tales. Often uses animals or inanimate (not alive) objects as the actors Allegory: uses symbolism to create meaning beyond literal translations Can include Pourquoi tales (why tales): stories explaining how things became to be

Phaedrus records Aesop fables in Latin. A Brief Fable History 2000 B.C. In ancient Mesopotamia, proverbs and fables featuring animals are recorded on clay tablets. Many originated from the Indian subcontinent, not Greece. 620 B.C. Aesop was born or captured into slavery. He was taken to Turkey but no one bought him. He was sold to a philosopher and later to Iadmon, who gave Aesop his freedom. 560 B.C. Aesop offended too many powerful people with his trickery and jokes and was executed by being thrown off a cliff, after being framed for stealing a golden cup. 15 B.C. Phaedrus is born as a slave in Thrace. He later gains his freedom in Italy and lives until 50 C.E. 1st Century C.E Phaedrus records Aesop fables in Latin. 1000 C.E. The Arabian Nights tales, the 1001 Nights, is compiled. They are based on Indian, Persian, and Arabic folklore and their stories are even older than Aesop’s fables. Many tales include Aesop-like animal fables. 1668-1694 C.E. Jean de La Fontaine publishes about 240 poems in the Aesopic tradition. Many of the Aesop fables you know are recreated by La Fontaine’s rendition.

Aesop’s Fables   Legend says … Aesop’s Roman master, Iadmon, was so delighted with Aesop’s fables that he granted Aesop his freedom!

Aesop’s Fables There are no records to prove that Aesop ever wrote anything down. Fortunately, after his death, people did write down every fable they could remember. A few of these authors are Phaedrus (1st Century CE) and Babrius (2nd century CE) .   Over the centuries, Aesop's fables have been rewritten and illustrated and translated into nearly every language in the world.

Aesop’s Fables Today, we still enjoy these wonderful stories created over 2,500 years ago!  Each is a very short story, and each has a moral.   Like this one …

The Fox and the Goat One day, a fox fell down a well. He tried to climb out, but the well was too deep. A goat wandered by. He peered down curiously. “What are you doing in a well?” asked the goat.

The Fox and the Goat “I’m warning you, goat,” snarled the fox. “This is my water! Go away.” “You can’t keep all the water for yourself,” the goat snorted. The goat jumped in the well.

The Fox and the Goat Quick as a flash, the fox jumped on the goat’s back and leaped out of well. He left the goat stuck in the well. The Moral of This Story: Don’t always believe what you hear from someone in trouble.

Parts of an Aesop-type Fable:

Aesop’s Fables Click here to read, watch and listen to more of Aesop’s Fables!

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