How Animals Mean
Jill Mann
This chapter provides a theoretical basis for the discussion of individual works in subsequent chapters. Taking examples from Latin prose rendition Phaedran fables known as Romulus vulgaris, it analyses ‘how animals mean’ beast fable, emphasizing deliberate brevity and sparseness fable narrative, connecting these features with mistrust words that characteristically teaches. In contrast, epic (represented here by Ysengrimus), proliferate, simple moral conclusion which action culminates is dissolved sea animal moralizing whose effect comic rather than didactic. Beast beat also differ their relation to historical reality: whereas a‐historical itself but can be used whole comment on situation, incorporate topical satire into its narrative.
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