Phaedrus and Aesopic Fable

Catalog description

The Roman poet Phaedrus is author of the earliest surviving collection of Aesopic fables in Greek or Latin. His work, which dates from the reign of Tiberius or shortly afterwards, is foundational for later collections of animal fables in all European languages. In addition, and in contrast to most Greek and Latin literature, many of his fables are known in earlier and later versions in languages such as Sanskrit, Arabic, Syriac, Persian, and others. Phaedrus’ poetry therefore bears witness to the aesthetics and the sociopolitical realities of the early Roman Empire, and also belongs to a literary and cultural tradition that extends far beyond the limits of Greek and Roman indebtedness and influence. Students will become familiar with both aspects. Class meetings will be divided between group reading and discussion of Phaedrus’ poetry with reference to its closest Greek and Latin analogues, and individual student reports on related or similar material from other literary traditions.