Color Version 60 Books That Will Influence Middle School Students' Lives

Author: Yang Fei, Tong Xiaozhen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The originator of Western fables, Aesop Fables
Author: Aesop
Country: Ancient Greece
Type: Fable
Composition Era: 6th Century BC
Reading Time: A Lifetime
Recommended Reading: "Aesop's Fables," translated by Luo Niansheng, People's Literature Publishing House, 1999
Selection Reason: One of the 100 Books that Have Influenced Human Civilization
The world's oldest collection of fables
The originator of Western fables
A textbook of life
The book that has had the greatest influence on Western ethics and political thought
An enlightening textbook for distinguishing between good and evil, beauty and ugliness

Aesop's Fables are worth reading. At least they give us three kinds of comfort. , this is an ancient book, reading it can enhance our pride in modern civilization. Second, it is a children's book, reading it makes us feel more grown-up and beyond those childish notions. Third, almost all the stories in this book are about animals, from animals to humans, you see how much evolution is needed in between. — Chinese writer and scholar Qian Zhongshu
Pre-Qin fables are stern and harsh, while Aesop's Fables are passionate and lenient; Pre-Qin fables are worldly-wise, while Aesop's Fables are full of childlike charm. — Chinese novelist Zhang Yuanshan
Background Search
Aesop may have lived in the 6th century BC and was born in Phrygia in Asia Minor. He was once a slave in the household of a man named Xanthus. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus (c. 484–430 BC) wrote in his "Histories" (Book 2): "Rhodopis, the daughter of Adermon, a Samian, was a slave of the same master as Aesop, the fable writer." Aesop was freed and gained his freedom due to his intelligence and wisdom. He traveled to various places, telling fables to people. It is said that the Lydian King Croesus (560–546 BC) trusted him greatly and sent him as an envoy to Delphi, but Aesop was ultimately killed.
Content Summary
"Aesop's Fables" means "A Collection of Fables by Aesop," most of which were created during Aesop's time and were written by him. A small portion were later creations attributed to Aesop, the master. As a crystallization of the life wisdom of ancient Greeks, it reflects a very wide range of content, with most chapters focusing on moral principles. Famous chapters in "Aesop's Fables" include "The Wolf and the Lamb," "The Farmer and the Snake," "The Tortoise and the Hare," and "The Fox and the Grapes."
"The Wolf and the Lamb" tells the story of a wolf who wants to eat a lamb but tries to hide his evil intentions. When the innocent lamb exposes his hypocrisy, the wolf reveals his fierce nature.
"The Farmer and the Snake" tells the story of a farmer who finds a frozen snake in winter and warms it in his arms. After the snake wakes up, it bites the kind farmer, who dies from the venom.
"The Tortoise and the Hare" tells the story of a race between a tortoise and a hare. The tortoise wins by persevering, while the hare, who is lazy, loses.
"The Fox and the Grapes" tells the story of a fox who sees grapes on a vine but cannot reach them. As he leaves, he says the grapes are sour.
Influence
"Aesop's Fables" is a folk literary work passed down orally in ancient Greece, known for its simplicity and conciseness. It is hailed as the originator of Western fables and laid the foundation for fables as a literary genre. It has long transcended geographical boundaries and has had a profound and widespread influence on European literary history, becoming a source and model for writers. Later writers like La Fontaine, Lessing, and Krylov were clearly influenced by it in their fable writing. "Aesop's Fables" is also frequently cited in literary and political works around the world, serving as metaphors, proverbs, weapons of satire, and targets of criticism.
"Aesop's Fables" is also one of the earliest foreign literary works to reach China, dating back to the late 16th to early 17th centuries. Italian missionaries, such as Matteo Ricci and Pomponius, introduced Aesop and his fables to China. In the late Qing Dynasty, with the frequent exchange of culture, various translations of "Aesop's Fables" appeared. In 1955, People's Literature Publishing House published the first "Aesop's Fables" translated directly from ancient Greek. In recent years, the number of versions of this book has become even more diverse. It can be said that "Aesop's Fables" is one of the most influential and popular Western literary works in China.
Excerpt
The wolf saw the lamb drinking water by the river and wanted to find a reasonable excuse to eat him. The wolf stood upstream and accused the lamb of making the water dirty, preventing him from drinking clean water. The lamb replied that he was drinking from the bank and was downstream, so he couldn't possibly have made the water dirty. The wolf dismissed this excuse and said, "But you cursed my father last year." The lamb replied that he hadn't been born yet. The wolf then said to the lamb, "Even if you are good at arguing, won't I still eat you?" This story shows that no matter how reasonable the defense is, it is useless against those who are determined to do evil.
Further Reading
"The Fables of La Fontaine" is the immortal work of the French fable poet La Fontaine, consisting of 12 volumes and 242 chapters, forming a complete whole. The characters in the fables include 12 types: men, women, gods, birds, aquatic creatures, lions, wolves, foxes, mice, monkeys, and donkeys. The settings also include 12 places: forests, cliffs, seas, rivers, roads, fields, shops, streets, palaces, huts, and cities. These elements combine to create a "Comedy of the Universe" with humans and animals as the main characters. "The Tale of Reynard the Fox" is almost household knowledge in France. It is a long narrative poem with the fox Reynard as the main character. The book uses animal voices as a cover, but in reality, it satirizes social life and is considered one of the most important satirical works in medieval.
Proverbs
Some people are weak and unable to accomplish tasks but always make excuses about the timing not being right.
The kind of friends you choose determines who you are.
Even if you do your best for a villain, their nature will never change.
A person who always lies will not be believed even when they tell the truth.
Although slow, perseverance will eventually lead to victory.