Education
by Jean de La Fontaine · from A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine
Adapted Version
Once there were two dog brothers. They were little puppies. They were very special. Their names were Lapluck and Caesar. They came from a good family. Their family was well known. Everyone knew their family.
They were small puppies. They went to new homes. Different people took them. They lived far apart. Each had a new life. They did not see each other again.
Caesar lived in a big forest. He learned many new things there. He learned to be strong. He learned to be fast. He learned to hunt well. He found his own food every day. The forest was his home and his school.
Lapluck lived in a warm kitchen. He helped the cooks there. He stayed inside all day. He watched the good food. He kept it safe from small pests. He was a kitchen dog. He liked his warm place.
Caesar became a very good dog. He was brave and strong. People knew his name far and wide. He was a great hunter. He helped forest people. He protected them well from danger. He was a hero dog to all.
Caesar's family was special. People took great care of them. His children were strong dogs. They were good hunters too. People wanted them to stay strong. They watched them closely every day.
Lapluck was a simple kitchen dog. He did not go outside much. People called him Lapluck. This name stayed with him always. He did not do brave things. He just watched the kitchen food. He was a quiet dog.
Lapluck had children. He had grandchildren. They were kitchen dogs too. They stayed inside always. They were not brave dogs. They were not like Caesar's family. They were quiet dogs. They loved their warm kitchen.
The two brothers became very different. Caesar was strong and brave. Lapluck was quiet and small. He stayed inside always. Their lives made them different. Where they lived changed them very much. Their homes shaped them.
This story teaches us a lesson. We must take good care of all things. Or things will not grow. They cannot be their best. Special puppies need good care. They can become great dogs. Good care makes them strong. It helps them be their best. It helps them reach their full potential.
Original Story
Education.
Lapluck and Cæsar brothers were, descended
From dogs by Fame the most commended,
Who falling, in their puppyhood,
To different masters anciently,
One dwelt and hunted in the boundless wood;
From thieves the other kept a kitchen free.
At first, each had another name;
But, by their bringing up, it came,
While one improved upon his nature,
The other grew a sordid creature,
Till, by some scullion called Lapluck,
The name ungracious ever stuck.
To high exploits his brother grew,
Put many a stag at bay, and tore
Full many a trophy from the boar;
In short, him first, of all his crew,
The world as Cæsar knew;
And care was had, lest, by a baser mate,
His noble blood should e'er degenerate.
Not so with him of lower station,
Whose race became a countless nation—
The common turnspits throughout France—
Where danger is, they don't advance—
Precisely the Antipodes
Of what we call the Cæsars, these!
Oft falls the son below his sire's estate:
Through want of care all things degenerate.
For lack of nursing Nature and her gifts,
What crowds from gods become mere kitchen-thrifts!
Story DNA
Moral
Without proper care and education, even the most promising individuals or things will degenerate and fall below their potential.
Plot Summary
Two brothers, Lapluck and Caesar, are born from a renowned dog lineage but are separated and raised in vastly different environments. One, raised in the wild, becomes the celebrated hunter Caesar, known for his noble exploits. The other, confined to a kitchen, becomes the common turnspit Lapluck, whose descendants are timid and undistinguished. The story concludes by emphasizing that lack of care and proper upbringing leads to the degeneration of even the most promising individuals.
Themes
Emotional Arc
potential to fulfillment vs. potential to degradation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Turnspit dogs were a specific breed of dog bred to run on a wheel to turn a spit for roasting meat in large kitchens, a common practice before mechanical rotisseries.
Plot Beats (10)
- Two dog brothers, Lapluck and Caesar, are born from a highly esteemed lineage.
- They are separated in puppyhood and given to different masters.
- One brother is raised in the wilderness, honing his natural abilities as a hunter.
- The other brother is raised in a kitchen, becoming a guard dog for the scullions.
- The wilderness dog excels, becoming known as Caesar for his heroic hunting feats against stags and boars.
- Great care is taken to ensure Caesar's noble bloodline continues without dilution.
- The kitchen dog, initially unnamed, is eventually called Lapluck, a name that sticks due to his common, sordid existence.
- Lapluck's descendants become the common turnspits of France, known for their timidity.
- The story highlights the stark contrast between the two brothers, attributing the difference to their upbringing.
- The moral is explicitly stated: lack of care causes degeneration, turning potential greatness into mediocrity.
Characters
Lapluck
A medium-sized dog, likely a scruffy, common breed, with a sturdy but unrefined build. His fur is probably a dull, utilitarian color, perhaps a mottled brown or grey, showing signs of a life spent in a kitchen environment, possibly with some grease stains or matted patches.
Attire: None, as a dog. His 'wardrobe' is his natural fur, which is likely matted or dirty from his kitchen duties.
Wants: To perform his assigned duties (turnspit) and survive, without ambition.
Flaw: Lack of ambition and spirit, easily influenced by his environment, allowing himself to be defined by his low station.
He degenerates from his noble lineage, becoming a 'sordid creature' and the progenitor of a 'countless nation' of common turnspits. He does not change, but rather embodies the negative outcome of poor education.
Sordid, common, uninspired, timid, resigned.
Cæsar
A large, powerful hunting dog, likely a noble breed known for strength and agility, such as a Mastiff or a hunting Hound. His coat is well-maintained, perhaps a rich, solid color like deep brown, black, or brindle, indicative of his active outdoor life and careful breeding. He possesses a muscular, athletic build.
Attire: None, as a dog. His 'wardrobe' is his natural fur, which is kept in prime condition for hunting.
Wants: To excel in hunting, uphold his noble lineage, and gain renown through his exploits.
Flaw: The story doesn't explicitly state a weakness, but implicitly, his noble status could make him vulnerable to complacency if not for his 'care' and 'education'.
He improves upon his nature, growing into a renowned hunter who puts stags at bay and tears trophies from boars. He embodies the positive outcome of proper education and care, becoming a celebrated figure.
Noble, brave, skilled, ambitious (in a canine sense), distinguished.
Locations
Boundless Wood
A vast, untamed forest, likely in a temperate European climate, with dense undergrowth and large trees, providing ample hunting grounds.
Mood: Wild, challenging, majestic, a place of natural selection and noble pursuit.
Cæsar is raised and hunts here, developing his noble nature and hunting prowess.
Kitchen of a French Estate
A bustling, working kitchen in a large French estate, likely with a large hearth, spit, and various cooking implements. It would be a place of constant activity and warmth.
Mood: Sordid, common, busy, functional, a place of mundane labor.
Lapluck is raised here, performing the menial task of a turnspit, leading to his 'sordid' nature and the degeneration of his lineage.