Animal Fable
Animal Fables: Power of Literature
There are certain qualities that people must possess in means of ethics and wisdom. However, many aspects of these qualities are hard to be taught just as mathematics and science are taught. For this reason, people use the method of telling fables. There are many different kinds of fables; popular ones are animal fable, one of which is Kalilah wa Dimna, an Arab translation of ancient Indian fable called Panchatantra. In Kalilah wa Dimna, many different animals are introduced. Each animal plays a different role and has different personality. They sometimes show wits but sometimes are very silly. In a series of stories, Kalilah wa Dimna teaches wisdom and lessons that are necessary to life.
One animal that appear almost throughout the whole story is the lion. Lion plays an important role as a King that rules other animals in a valley. Like other animals, the lion has his roles and personalities. Throughout the fables, the lion’s personalities can be described in three ways. Firstly, though very strong and big, he lacks in knowledge and judgment.
"[…] the boar told all he had seen of the terrible beast, and his report convinced the lion that it was best to repair to his den ... It was to this bright and airy sanctuary that the lion commanded his food to be brought every day" (p. 69).
Despite the fact that he is the ruler of all animals of the valley, the lion gets frightened by the appearance of new animal and tries to hide in his shelter. Secondly, the lion shows his stupidity as he fails to listen to his faithful and royal retainer Schanzabeh, but is fooled by a deception of a treacherous retainer Dimna. Dimna entraps Schanzabeh and tells the lion that Schanzabeh should be executed.
"[…] if he has not really the project of deposing you by treachery or violence, he is at least preparing the way for mounting the throne at your death … it is nevertheless the business of a wise man to take his precautions in time, before any
There are certain qualities that people must possess in means of ethics and wisdom. However, many aspects of these qualities are hard to be taught just as mathematics and science are taught. For this reason, people use the method of telling fables. There are many different kinds of fables; popular ones are animal fable, one of which is Kalilah wa Dimna, an Arab translation of ancient Indian fable called Panchatantra. In Kalilah wa Dimna, many different animals are introduced. Each animal plays a different role and has different personality. They sometimes show wits but sometimes are very silly. In a series of stories, Kalilah wa Dimna teaches wisdom and lessons that are necessary to life.
One animal that appear almost throughout the whole story is the lion. Lion plays an important role as a King that rules other animals in a valley. Like other animals, the lion has his roles and personalities. Throughout the fables, the lion’s personalities can be described in three ways. Firstly, though very strong and big, he lacks in knowledge and judgment.
"[…] the boar told all he had seen of the terrible beast, and his report convinced the lion that it was best to repair to his den ... It was to this bright and airy sanctuary that the lion commanded his food to be brought every day" (p. 69).
Despite the fact that he is the ruler of all animals of the valley, the lion gets frightened by the appearance of new animal and tries to hide in his shelter. Secondly, the lion shows his stupidity as he fails to listen to his faithful and royal retainer Schanzabeh, but is fooled by a deception of a treacherous retainer Dimna. Dimna entraps Schanzabeh and tells the lion that Schanzabeh should be executed.
"[…] if he has not really the project of deposing you by treachery or violence, he is at least preparing the way for mounting the throne at your death … it is nevertheless the business of a wise man to take his precautions in time, before any