Aesop’s Fables (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Aesop
- First Published: 1484
- Type of Work: Short fiction
- Type of Plot: Fable
- Time of Work: Antiquity
- Setting: Undefined
- Genres: Fable, Short fiction, Children’s literature, Fantasy, Didactic literature, Animal tale, Bestiary
- Subjects: Mythology or myths, Politics, Supernatural, Education or educators, Legends, Folklore, Symbolism, Gods or goddesses, Heroes or heroism, Edible plants, Grapes, Greek or Roman times, Ants, Animals, Foxes, Fables, Grasshoppers
- Locales: Greece, ancient
Characters Discussed
The fox, who appears the most frequently of all the animals in Aesop’s fables. Although usually representing cunning, deceit, or treachery, the fox also occasionally serves as a more general figure when a basic representative of humanity is needed. Although the fox is often successful because of his trickery, he should not be seen as a hero in the traditional sense. The fox’s slyness usually is accompanied by cowardice, disloyalty, greed, or dishonesty. These negative qualities often prove to be the fox’s undoing at the end of the story. In “The...
[The entire page is 896 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
