The Story of Reynard the Fox

Author: Yu Tian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Tale of Reynard the Fox is an outstanding French folk ballad, one of the most important anti-feudal satirical works in medievalliterature. The entire poem spans over 25,000 lines. It was created and compiled over nearly 200 years from the mid-12th to the late 13th century, with contributions from multiple authors. Since these ballads were originally passed down orally in, the names of the original authors are largely unknown. Later, the modern French linguist Lucien Fauvet compiled these independent ballads into a cohesive The Tale of Reynard the Fox in the order of their plot development. The Tale of Reynard the Fox is a work where the author feigns to tell stories about the animal world, reflecting the social realities of the time—the struggle between the emerging bourgeoisie and the feudal ruling class. The merciless exposure and ridicule of the feudal class, along with its brilliant comedic techniques and humorous style, have made The Tale of Reynard the Fox a treasure of French literature and have given it worldwide influence.