A fable is a small narrative written most often in a satirical style and carrying a certain semantic load. In the modern world, when vices are often praised, and virtues, on the contrary, are not honored, this type of creativity acquires special relevance and is most valuable. Ivan Andreevich Krylov is one of the outstanding authors working in this genre.
Fable "Crow and the Fox"
Krylov has always been favorably distinguished from other fabulists by the fact that he can literally in the same 20-50 lines reveal a truly dramatic plot. The heroes of his works appear alive to the reader, their characters are remembered for a long time.
The fable “Crow and Fox” by Krylov was first published in the literary magazine “Dramatic Bulletin” in 1908. However, the plot, taken as its basis, has been known since ancient times. The stupid crow and the flattering fox now and then appear in literature among various peoples. In all such works one and the same morality can be traced, showing all the baseness of flattery and the dim-witted mind of the person who appreciates it. Krylov’s fable “Crow and Fox” compares favorably with the fact that it is not the flatterer who is condemned, but the one who believes his words. That is why the Crow loses everything, while the Fox has earned her "piece of cheese."
Aesop and Lessing's Fables
As noted above, an instructive story about the black-winged bird and the red-tailed cheat can not be called new. Before Krylov, many authors used it, but the most famous of them are two - these are Aesop and Lessing.
Aesop, who lived in the VI-V century BC, believed that his fable "Raven and the Fox" is applicable to the "foolish man." Even his fox, unlike Krylov’s, does not immediately run away, but at first taunts a bird that has lost food. Another insignificant difference between the two works is the gastronomic predilections of the crow. The words of the fable "Crow and Fox" Krylova: "Raven somewhere God sent a piece of cheese." Aesop, however, did not send cheese to Raven, and the bird itself stole a piece of meat from someone.
Lessing, a contemporary of Krylov, went a little further than Aesop and poisoned the meat stolen by the bird. Thus, he wanted to punish the fox, which eventually dies a terrible death, for her bootlicking and flattery.
National Identity of I. A. Krylov
Many researchers of Krylov’s work, having analyzed the fable “Crow and the Fox”, note how successfully he managed to reflect the characters typical of the era being described. This feature, despite all their fabulousness, is also characteristic of his other works. For this reason, Ivan Andreevich is called the father of Russian realism.
The simple and very understandable plot of fables has not lost its relevance for many generations. This is due to the fact that Krylov took the main vices and weaknesses of man as the basis of his work, and they remained the same as those of his contemporaries.
The living Russian language, which is written in all the fables of Ivan Andreevich, is devoid of excessive refinement. It is clear to everyone without exception. In order for the reader to better learn the lesson concluded in the fable, at the end of the work the author always gives its morality. One of the few exceptions is the Crow and the Fox fable. Krylova in her is more interested in the process of how the Crow, under the influence of flattery, begins to feel its significance and superiority.
Conclusion
The rich legacy that Ivan Andreyevich Krylov left will always remain the national treasure of spiritual Russia. His fables are rightfully included in the golden literary fund of our country and are studied in the school curriculum. As long as there are such works, there is hope that people can get rid of vices and rise above the material component of life.