The Power of Fables by Jean de La Fontaine

Name: The Power of Fables
Author: Jean de La Fontaine

Jean de La Fontaine addresses M. De Barillon with a modest verse offering, asking whether a man of diplomatic importance can spare attention for simple fables. He praises Barillon’s gentleness and persuasive power, urging him to help soften hearts and bring war to rest, especially to prevent friendly kings from turning England into a source of conflict. In return for such peace, the poet promises lavish offerings, while presenting his tale and prayer as humble incense. The tale concerns an Athenian orator who tries to warn his city of grave public danger. He speaks with all the force of political eloquence, using powerful images and thunderous language, but the crowd ignores him because it is absorbed in watching two boys stage a mock fight. Recognising that direct seriousness cannot hold their attention, he begins a trivial story: Ceres travels with an eel and a swallow, and a river blocks their way. The eel swims across and the swallow flies over. The crowd immediately interrupts, eager to know what Ceres does. The orator replies that Ceres did whatever she wished, but first cursed the Athenians for concerning themselves with childish stories and games while Greece armed itself against tyrant chains. He asks why they do not instead inquire what Philip is doing. Ashamed by the rebuke, the crowd falls silent and finally listens closely to his warning. The poet presents this incident as proof of the strength of fable. People, including himself, are drawn toward amusing tales even when they ought to attend to more serious instruction. Though the world may be old, human taste and will remain infantile; therefore, anyone who seeks to teach must also please.

By Jean de La Fontaine · First published 1678 · Genre: Fable, Didactic Poetry, Moral Allegory · 1,237 words

First lines

To M. De Barillon.[1]

[1]: _M. De Barillon._ -- Ambassador to the Court of St. James. -- Translator. M. De Barillon was a great friend of La Fontaine, and also of other literary lights of the time.

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Similar titles

Genres

Fable — The poem explicitly defends the persuasive power of fables, using a brief illustrative tale involving Ceres, an eel, and a swallow to convey its moral.
Didactic Poetry — Written in verse, the work aims to teach that moral and political instruction is more effective when presented through entertaining stories.
Moral Allegory — The inattentive Athenian crowd allegorically represents audiences who neglect urgent public concerns in favor of trivial amusement.
Political Satire — The work criticizes public indifference to political danger, invokes Greece's threat from Philip, and opens with commentary on European war and diplomacy.

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The Power of Fables 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: Fable, Didactic Poetry, Moral Allegory, Political Satire, Social Satire
Length: 1,237 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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