The Fables of Aesop (Joseph Jacobs) NY: Macmillan: 1941

Fable: The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse: Pg 15-17

Summary: The town mouse visited his cousin in the country. He complained about his cousins lifestyle and invited him to the city. IN the city the country mouse enjoyed the food but was scared of the dog, then ran home.

Critique: Typical fable. Short and with a moral.

Activity (After): How do you feel about change?

The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs

It is my understanding that Jacobs' main thesis concerning the fables of Aesop - that they were derived from and influenced by the animal fables of ancient India - has been discredited by more current scholarship. Interestingly enough, I recently came across some discussion of a possible connection to the Sumerian tradition, in Barbara Bader's introduction to Aesop & Company With Scenes From His Legendary Life.

However that may be (and I'm not sure I'm well enough informed to venture an opinion), Jacobs' notes on the eighty-two fables contained herein are still useful, even if one ignores the Indian "connection." As someone intending to read the two classical sources for "Aesop's" fables, Babrius and Phaedrus, Jacobs' work in tracing each selection back to one of these authors is most helpful, as is his history of their medieval transmission.

I'm not sure just how far I want to take my recent Aesop "project" - whether I want to go beyond Babrius and Phaedrus, and really get into the scholarship in the area. Still, the process of reading these many adaptations and retellings has given me some added insight, both into the adaptability of such stories, and into the transmission (or lack thereof) of ancient literature. That alone has made it worthwhile... ( )

Jacobs, Joseph. Jacobs's Fables of Aesop. London: Macmillan, 1979. Print.

This is a compilation of the classic "Aesops Fables" by Joseph Jacobs. Each fable has a cautionary or moral message, which would be really useful to discuss with children, particularly in a classroom setting. The book also has beautiful, story specific, black and white illustrations, by Richard Heighway. "Jacobs's Fables of Aesop" consists of 82 tales, as well as an informative introduction, which explains the history behind the fables. This book is suitable for readers of about the ages of 8 to 12. ( )