The Gods Wishing to Instruct a Son of Jupiter

Jupiter’s young son, already gifted with a godlike spirit, precocious reason, and remarkable skill in love, is beloved wherever he is known. Though he seems naturally accomplished in the arts of pleasing, Jupiter wishes to give him an education worthy of his rank and summons the gods to decide what he should learn. Mars offers to teach him the martial art that has raised heroes to heaven; Apollo offers music; and the god clad in the Nemaean lion’s hide proposes to train him to defeat vice, reject weakening luxury, and follow the difficult paths that lead to glory. Cupid claims that the boy may learn all things from him. The poem supports Cupid’s boast, declaring that wit guided by the desire to please surpasses the feats of Mars, Hercules, and Apollo.

By Jean de La Fontaine · First published 1678 · Genre: Verse Fable, Panegyric, Occasional Poetry · 766 words

First lines

For Monseigneur The Duke Du Maine.

• Open reader

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Genres

• Verse Fable — The work uses mythological figures and a concise exemplary narrative to praise and instruct, culminating in the moral superiority of Cupid's power to please.
• Panegyric — It is principally an elaborate poem of praise for the young Duke du Maine, allegorically presented as Jupiter's gifted son.
• Occasional Poetry — The poem was composed for a specific dedicatee and courtly occasion, addressing the education and future stature of a royal child.
• Mythological Poetry — Jupiter, Mars, Apollo, Hercules, Cupid, Flora, and the Olympian setting furnish the poem's characters, imagery, and allegorical framework.

Tags

French fable · verse allegory · mythological satire · classical mythology · Olympus · Jupiter · Cupid · Mars · Apollo · Hercules · divine education · royal upbringing

What this Textopian page supports

The Gods Wishing to Instruct a Son of Jupiter is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jean de La Fontaine, dated 1678 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Fable
• Author: Jean de La Fontaine
• Date: 1678 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Verse Fable, Panegyric, Occasional Poetry, Mythological Poetry, Allegory
• Length: 766 words
• Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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• Work identity for The Gods Wishing to Instruct a Son of Jupiter by Jean de La Fontaine
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
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More by Jean de La Fontaine

• To Monseigneur the Dauphin (1668)
• The Grasshopper and the Ant (1668)
• The Raven and the Fox (1668)
• The Frog that Wished to be as Big as the Ox (1668)
• The Two Mules (1668)
• The Wolf and the Dog (1668)
• The Heifer, the Goat, and the Sheep, in Company with the Lion (1668)
• The Wallet (1668)
• All works by Jean de La Fontaine