Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? Famous for the moral lessons behind most of his stories, Aesop’s Fables continues teaching essential life lessons for generations of children.
Interestingly, some people only know the stories and very little about the storyteller or the entirety of his work. Here are some of the most interesting facts about Aesop’s Fables.
The Origins of Aesop’s Fables
Most people know that Aesop’s Fables are many years old, but how old are they? It is believed that Aesop lived between 620 B.C. and 560 B.C., and his stories were collected throughout his lifetime. Children and adults can now read the compilation of his stories, as they represent important life lessons. While there are different theories on whether he was enslaved, it is still widely accepted that he was enslaved or at least started as an enslaved person who became a storyteller.
7 interesting facts about Aesop’s Fables
1. Stories in the form of allegory
Aesop told allegorical stories. This means that his stories had a moral or ethical lesson. The main goal of the stories wasn’t just to entertain the listeners, but to share lessons in life and morality. To teach the lessons, Aesop used the clever technique of telling stories about animals or inanimate objects to allow the audience to use their imaginations.
2. Global reach
Aesop’s Fables reportedly originated in Greek, but today, they can be read in almost every language on the planet. There are multiple translations of Aesop’s Fables in different languages, and they can be read by people around the world. There are also various iterations of his stories; for example, the Tortoise and the Hare have many cartoons after it, all teaching the same story.
3. Aesop told 725 stories
Today, it is widely accepted that Aesop told 725 stories in total. However, these were only the number of stories attributed to him. The number might be hard to identify since multiple versions and translations of his stories exist. Plus, since his stories were collected in 500 B.C, this means that some stories might have either been lost or forgotten.
4. Influence on literature
Due to the collection of his stories, Aesop has significantly influenced modern and classic literature. These include the likes of Shakespeare and even J.K. Rowling. Today, some of his works influenced many other writers, either directly or indirectly. With a wide range of stories, some might even be influenced by his work without knowing that the story came from Aesop’s Fables.
5. Aesop didn’t create fables
Contrary to what some people believe, Aesop wasn’t the first person to ever tell fables. It was already traditional in Greek literature. Aesop, however, was one of the people who popularized them. With his vast collection of stories, the storyteller simultaneously focused on quality and quantity. While some of Aesop’s Fables are short, others can be very long and complicated, with multiple twists, characters, and deep stories.
6. Multiple endings
Some stories from Aesop’s Fables have multiple endings, allowing for more interpretations and discussions. The various endings to the same story also show how the story can be taken. It also allows for debate, as people can converse about which ending they like more. This also added to the number of his tales.
7. Animal characters
One way that Aesop made his stories stand out was by giving animals human characteristics. In his stories, animals would think, act, or talk like humans. He also ensured not to substitute humans and that they were still in the story. Except, they weren’t always the subject of the story. Instead, humans were mainly shepherds, farmers, or even gods. However, some stories focus on humans and the lessons they learned.
Final words
Aesop’s Fables is one of the classics that, to this day, still impact modern society. Since it’s deeply rooted in morals and values, it can teach children valuable lessons. Even today, the stories by Aesop still live and continue to resonate in art, animation, films, and more.
The influence of Aesop can still be felt, although little details remain regarding his personal life. However, despite the lack of information on who he was as a person or the facts surrounding his actual life, his stories continue to live on.
