Fable - the oldest genre of literature, originating in ancient Greece. It is based on a moralizing story that contains morality either in the text of the work itself or in a separate part of it. Traditionally, this genre has a small volume and is written in poetic form. As the main characters, famous fabulists most often choose animals that embody the vices of both the individual and society as a whole.
Genre development
It is believed that the fable originated in ancient Greece. Its first authors are called Stesichore and Hesiod. However, Aesop became most famous, whose works were subsequently used by famous fabulists as the basis for creating works of this genre. Less popular were Demetrius Falersky (300 BC) and Babrius (2nd century AD).
From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, fables were written by Jean de Lafontaine, who lived in France in the 17th century, the German poet Gellert. In the 18-19th centuries, this genre gained great popularity in Russian literature. The most famous are A. Kantemir, V. K. Trediakovsky, A. P. Sumarokov, I. I. Dmitriev and, of course, I. A. Krylov.
Aesop - famous ancient Greek fabulist
This is a rather famous and yet mysterious person. It is believed that Aesop lived in the 6th century BC. e. in one of the cities of Thrace or Phrygia.
The main source of information about the fabulist is legends, since it is still not known for certain whether such a person really existed. He is credited with creating small fascinating stories in prose, from which moralizing meaning flowed. Basically, they were directed against the nobility, which required a special, veiled content. The characters became conditional animals who spoke a simple language. Hence the winged expression “Aesopian language”, which is actively used in our time in the meaning of “allegory”.
Interest in the stories of Aesop's fables has always existed. His followers Fedr, Flavius Avian did an arrangement of texts in Latin. Many of the most famous fabulists of different times used them as the basis for creating their own works. Hence, quite familiar and similar stories in the texts of various authors. Here is one example of Aesop’s fable: the wolf saw the shepherds eating a sheep, came up and said, addressing them: “And how much noise would there be if I did it.”
The work of Jean de La Fontaine
The history of the modern fable begins with the work of the French fabulist, who lived in 1621-1695.
His childhood passed near nature, as his father served in the forestry department. Lafontaine was not serious about the post transferred from his parent and soon ended up in Paris, where he lived his whole life, having achieved, by the way, great fame. Before him were opened the doors of almost all the capital's salons, with the exception of the royal palace: they did not like a free and frivolous poet who did not accept any obligations.
The main fame of the poet is brought by 6 books under the single title "Fables of Aesop, translated into verses by M. Lafontaine." They were distinguished by a very good, figurative language, a variety of poetic forms and a special rhythm. Interesting philosophical reflections and lyrical digressions were organically interwoven in the content. Heroes of La Fontaine usually achieved success due to their dexterity and ability to use the situation.
Fiction genre in Russian literature
Interest in the work of Aesop, and then Lafontaine was observed in many countries, including Russia. As early as the 17th century, the fables of Stefanit and Ihnililat were known. However, this genre reaches its greatest popularity only after the Petrine era, when truly famous fabulist writers appear in literature. Russian imitative works of this genre are gradually replaced by original ones.
The first here were A. Cantemir, who wrote 6 fables in the spirit of Aesop, and V. Trediakovsky, who was engaged in the processing of the works of the ancient Greek poet.
Famous fabulists A. Sumarokov, I. Chemnitzer, I. Dmitriev
The next serious step was made by A. Sumarokov: in his creative heritage there are 334 fables, most of which are already independent works. These are small live scenes written in free verse and somewhat rude language. According to the author, this was required by the low calm, to which the fables belonged. The works themselves very much resembled a naturalistic scene from everyday life, and the plot came from folklore, which also gave the works a folk character. Sumarokov himself often called them fables, parables, which already defines the author’s intention.
In the second half of the 18th century, the collection Fables and Tales of NN in Poems was published, a feature of the works of which was a combination of the features of classicism and sentimentalism. The name of the author, I. I. Chemnitzer, became known to the general reader only two decades later, when the book was reprinted after the death of the poet. The main features of his fables are well expressed in the epigraph to the second collection: “In nature, in simplicity, he sought the truth ...” For the poet, accuracy and logical expression of thought were more important, which limited him in the choice of expressive means. Many noted that, unlike Sumarokov with his “peasant” conversation, Chemnitzer's language was more like noble speech, more smooth and elegant.
Closes this row of fabulists I. Dmitriev, who was very friendly with Karamzin. This left an imprint on his work. Dmitriev’s language is particularly light, smooth and good taste, and animal heroes express themselves witty and at the same time cute. It was no accident that he was called a reformer in the field of poetic language and the founder of a salon fable.
In Russian literary criticism, there is an opinion that these famous fabulists managed to reform the language of the works of this genre and laid the foundations for the formation of the work of another famous poet.
The Great I. A. Krylov
This poet, known to us since childhood, began with translations of his beloved Lafontaine in 1805, and then for another 6 years tried his hand at various genres.
Krylov was recognized as a fabulist in 1811, during which 18 fables were written, 15 of which were original. Bright and accurate figurative language, attractive and often unexpected images, almost all of which have become common nouns, instant feedback on the most relevant socio-political events are the most significant features of I. Krylov's fables. His works embodied the wisdom and originality of the people and laid the foundations of realism. The creative heritage of I. Krylov includes 340 fables published in 9 collections. Even during the life of the poet, his books were translated into Italian, German, English, French.
It so happened that the famous Russian fabulist I. A. Krylov played a leading role in the development of this genre throughout world literature. Nobody could say better and more than him.