Jean de La Fontaine
Fables

Jean de La Fontaine is not a name the average person associates with fables and fairy tales. Nevertheless, he was an important contributor in his time to the wonderful stories and poetry that we know as fables.

In fact, he was known as the most famous French Fabulist and was highly acclaimed during the 17th century. History

Jean de La Fontaine was born July 8, 1621 in Champagne, France at the Chateau Thierry. His father was a deputy ranger to the duchy, both of his parents were considered upper middle class and quite wealthy.

Not much is known of Jean de Lafontaine's early years, however we do know that he entered the Oratory briefly but soon found it was not his calling. Soon after, he began studying the law. Family Life

Jean de Lafontaine married Marie Hericart, a situation arranged by his father, but the two were soon to part ways. He would move away while she remained at the home of his youth with his mother.

A son was born to them in 1653 who was reportedly raised by his mother.

Early Career

His first serious writing attempt came in the form of translating "Eunuchus of Terence". About this time, he was introduced to the Superintendent Fouquet, a nobleman by the name of Nicolas.

Fouquet prided himself and his estate on the finer artistic things and soon provided Jean de Lafontaine with a pension in return for poetry and prose, some of which was based on his lavish estate.

Fables

Perhaps the most famous of all Lafontaine's work were his fables. He wove seemingly simplistic yet sophisticated stories of wisdom and morality.

True to the form and fashion, each fable would have a deeper moral meaning. He took his inspiration from such literary giants as Aesop, Horace, and Tasso.

Lafontaine borrowed from them but then made the stories his own. Some of his first fables were:

The Grasshopper and the Ant

An age-old tale of one who whiles away the summer months and when winter comes in unprepared. The grasshopper had played all summer and now faced a winter with no food. She inquires of the ant for food and is told to dance for her bread.

The Hen with the Golden Egg

This is a story about greed and its ultimate end; the meanest of men owned the hen who would lay one golden egg per day. Not satisfied he kills the hen to get all that are inside, he finds nothing and sadly, the hen can lay no more eggs at all.

The Tortoise and the Hare

A tried and true fable of the arrogant hare and the diligent tortoise.

Jean de Lafontaine continued to write many more fables in his life becoming famous and impressing even the toughest of critics.

Even today, his fables are told and retold to the delight of many. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then Jean de Lafontaine and his fables should feel very flattered.