Fables like to listen to children, and adults see in them a hidden meaning and a "double bottom". Kids perceive them as fairy tales, because the main characters of the work are animals, birds, insects. They are written in poetic form, but are easily perceived, since the language is figurative and accessible. Fables are satirical. The moral part is also an obligatory part - this is a definite conclusion to which the fabulist comes. Sometimes he directly voices it at the end of the work, and sometimes the reader must come to him himself. Interesting and beloved by many is Krylov’s fable "Elephant and Pug."
From the history
Fables appeared a long time ago. The ancient Greeks read Aesop, the French - Lafontaine. In Russia, his fables were retold and outlined in his own language by Krylov, who became the most famous Russian fabulist.
Krylov's favorite fable
"Elephant and Pug" is one of the most famous works written in this genre. There are two main characters in this fable . Passive is the Elephant. It is unusual for this area, therefore, at a time when it is driven through the streets, crowds of people want to look at it. Active dog pug. She is trying in every possible way to attract the attention of the Elephant and others. To do this, Pug barks, screeches and rushes forward. It would seem that she does not achieve her goal, since the Elephant does not pay attention to her at all, but continues to move forward. Krylov’s fable “Elephant and Pug” shows that a truly great person doesn’t care what the opinion of people who mean nothing about him is. Hula or tail wagging - he does not care about them. However, the behavior of Moska was noticed by her neighbor Shavka. She offers her friend to stop being disgraced, because her actions did not lead to anything. To this, Moska replies that she did not understand her plan at all. She is not going to enter into an open conflict with the Elephant at all. On the contrary, she likes that without participating in a fight, she will be able to create an opinion about herself as a big bully.
I.A. Krylov. "Elephant and Pug." Moral analysis
In this fable there is no separate paragraph where a conclusion would be drawn. Therefore, there is no clear morality. Some consider Moska to be a negative character who advertises himself for no reason. Talking with her neighbor Shavka, she explains that although she is pestering the Elephant, her opinion is not at all important to her. He is only a way to show his strength and courage. It is precisely to such conclusions that those who are watching this scene should come. The pug behaves as a strategist, able to achieve its goals by cunning and workarounds. Others believe that Krylov’s fable "Elephant and Pug"
indicates how pathetic and ridiculous the efforts of a small dog look, trying to attract the attention of an important and great beast. At the same time, how stupid her environment is if they take Moska’s cunning for courage and courage! Other people believe that there is no hidden meaning in the fable, and the little Pug barking at the Elephant itself is really strong. Her actions will be appreciated by those for whom it is more important how they look from the side than what they really are. The fable "Elephant and Pug", the text of which is very ambiguous, has also become a quoted work. The last lines turned into a saying. So often they talk about petty politicians who loudly criticize the great ones, knowing that they will not get involved with them.