Try to recall for a moment your days in grammar school. How many poems did you have to learn? Did you have to recite any devant la classe (before the class)? If you attended an English-speaking school, you may have studied poems by Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, John Keats, Lord Byron and the like.

The study of la poésie (poetry) has always been an important part of the curriculum dans les écoles Françaises (in French schools). I remember having to learn poems au Cours Préparatoire (in first grade) and then having to recite them out loud in front of the entire class. Did I enjoy it? No. But I have come to appreciate poetry as an adult and I believe this is partly due to having studied the subject at an early age.

Jean de La Fontaine is one of the most celebrated French poets and fabulists (a fabulist is one who composes fables). He lived during the 17^th century under the reign of King Louis XIV. He is known primarily for the 239 fables that he composed and divided into twelve books. Les Fables de La Fontaine (La Fontaine’s Fables) is required study for all French grammar school students and for good reason. They make up a major part of the repertoire of classic French literature. Below is the most famous fable and the one that French students are most familiar with.

Enjoy!

 

Le Corbeau et le Renard

 

Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché, 

Tenait en son bec un fromage.

Maître Renard, par l’odeur alléché, 

Lui tint à peu près ce langage:

Hé!  Bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau.

Que vous êtes joli! Que vous me semblez beau!

Sans mentir, si votre ramage

Se rapporte à votre plumage,

Vous êtes le phénix des hôtes de ces bois.

A ces mots le corbeau ne se sent pas de joie;

Et, pour montrer sa belle voix, 

Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tombe sa proie.

Le renard s’en saisit, et dit: Mon bon monsieur,

Apprenez que tout flatteur

Vit aux dépens de celui qui l’écoute:

Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage, sans doute.

Le corbeau, honteux et confus,

Jura, mais un peu tard, qu’on ne l’y prendrait plus.

 

 

The Crow and the Fox

 

Master Crow perched on a tree, Was holding a cheese in his beak. Master Fox attracted by the smell Said something like this: “Well, Hello Mister Crow! How beautiful you are! How nice you seem to me! Really, if your voice Is like your plumage, You are the phoenix of all the inhabitants of these woods.” At these words, the Crow is overjoyed. And in order to show off his beautiful voice, He opens his beak wide, lets his prey fall The Fox grabs it, and says: “My good man, Learn that every flatterer Lives at the expense of the one who listens to him. This lesson, without doubt, is well worth a cheese.” The Crow, ashamed and embarrassed, Swore, but a little late, that he would not be taken again.