The History of Literature
643 Aesop and His Fables (with Robin Waterfield) | My Last Book with Boel Westin
Oct 17, 2024
Unveil the mystery of Aesop, from a slave to a celebrated storyteller, as his fables reveal timeless moral lessons. Discover the connection between his tales and classic children's stories, and delve into the nuances of translating their charm. Explore the fables' deep, adult themes, serving as political commentary and societal critique. Transition to Tove Jansson's imaginative world, contemplating the idea of a 'last book' and the uniqueness of animal perspectives in storytelling.
54:15
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Quick takeaways
- Aesop's fables, often misinterpreted as children's stories, originally conveyed complex moral and political lessons intended for adult audiences.
- The translation of Aesop's fables presents unique challenges as it seeks to preserve their original essence while ensuring modern accessibility.
Deep dives
The Legacy of Aesop and His Fables
Aesop is often regarded as the archetypal storyteller, although much of his life remains shrouded in legend. Historically, Aesop was believed to be a slave from either Phrygia or Thrace and lived around the 6th century BCE. While he is credited with a collection of fables, it is unclear how many, if any, of them were originally authored by him, as many stories existed prior to his time and were attributed to him later. The essence of his contribution lies not only in individual tales but also in the moral and political lessons that they convey, often using animal characters to reflect human behavior and societal norms.
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