Aesop’s Fables (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Aesop
- First Published: 1484
- Type of Work: Short fiction
- Type of Plot: Fable
- Time of Work: Antiquity
- 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
Critical Evaluation:
The fables attributed to Aesop were actually composed over the course of many centuries. Aesop is a semilegendary figure, about whom various stories have been told. All that can be known with any certainty about Aesop is that he was a Phrygian slave who was later freed by his Greek master because of the wit and charm of Aesop’s stories. All other details about Aesop’s life appear to have been invented after his death. For example, it is said that Aesop served under two masters, Xanthus and Iadmon, on the island of Samos. After being freed by Iadmon,...
[The entire page is 1945 words long]
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