C LIT 128A Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Samuel Croxall, Walter Crane, William Godwin
Document Summary
Fables were meant to tell children how to behave. Replaced humans with animal characters & had a coded meaning. Fables originally made for rulers who would benefit from hidden advice, not for kids. Were also for political statements or the secret amusement for the oppressed. Ex: george orwell"s animal farm on the russian revolution. All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others . Teach best prudence & caution, & at worst self-interest, rascality, & ruthlessness. Often ambiguous; moralists can make of them what they want & what they will. Dumbed down aesop fables for his patron who ended up growing up to be an office- seeking politician. Deciphered the application of the story right after. Fox w/o a tail fox lost his tail in a trap & was embarrassed by it, so he asks all the other foxes to do the same as a fashion trend.
