Demystifying ‘The Fox and the Grapes’: A Study in Translation and Adaptation

Authors

  • Punitha Andrews Assistant Professor of English, Department of Humanities, Acropolis Institute of Technology and Research | Research Scholar at SABVGACC, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore.

Keywords:

Fables, Fox and Grapes, Language, History of fables, Translation, Adaptation

Abstract

This paper studies the evolution of Aesop's fable "The Fox and the Grapes" across its various adaptations from the 15th to the 20th century, scrutinizing how shifts in language, narrative style, and cultural contexts shape the story's interpretation and reception. By comparing versions by William Caxton, Samuel Croxall, Thomas James, and V. S. Vernon Jones, the study seeks to understand the adaptability of the fable's themes through different epochs and its capacity to articulate universal human experiences amidst changing societal norms and values. Guided by the question of how linguistic choices and narrative techniques in these historical adaptations reflect the cultural and societal values of their respective times, the paper examines the universality and adaptability of Aesop's fables, where the language and narrative are tailored to the expectations of diverse audiences. Despite these adaptations, the fable's core moral lessons remain intact. This approach helps deepen the comprehension of Aesop's fables' enduring nature and underscores their significance as moral teachings and cultural artefacts.

Author Biography

Punitha Andrews, Assistant Professor of English, Department of Humanities, Acropolis Institute of Technology and Research | Research Scholar at SABVGACC, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore.

Punitha Andrews completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, and Devi Ahilya University, Indore, respectively. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Devi Ahilya University, Indore, and is an Assistant Professor of English in the Department of Humanities at Acropolis Institute of Technology and Research, Indore. Her research interests include the history of English literature, with a focus on the unknown, lost, or lesser-known works from the Renaissance to the Victorian period.

References

Aesop. Aesop's Fables. Translated by William Caxton, 1484. n.p., n.d.

Aesop. Fables of Aesop and Others, Newly Done into English with an Application to Each Fable. Translated by Samuel Croxall, 1722. n.p., n.d.

Aesop. Aesop's Fables: A New Version, Chiefly from Original Sources. Translated by Thomas James, John Murray, 1848.

Aesop. Aesop's Fables: A New Translation by V.S. Vernon Jones. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham, William Heinemann, 1912.

Blackham, H. J. The Fable as Literature. Athlone Press, 1985.

Crystal, David. The Stories of English. Penguin Books, 2005.

Aesop. The Complete Fables. Translated by Olivia Temple and Robert Temple, Penguin Books, 1998.

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Published

01.04.2024

How to Cite

Andrews, P. (2024). Demystifying ‘The Fox and the Grapes’: A Study in Translation and Adaptation. Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature, 15(2), 12–22. Retrieved from https://journals.eltai.in/index.php/jtrel/article/view/JTREL150203

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2024): April

Section

Research Articles

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