LA COUR DU LION
by Jean de La Fontaine · from Fables de La Fontaine
Adapted Version
Once there was a big, strong Lion King. He wanted to show everyone his power. He was very mighty. He called all the animals to his home. He wanted them to see how great he was.
The Lion King sent letters to all. He asked them to come to his house. There would be a big party. There would be fun things to see.
The King's house was very old. It smelled very bad inside. The smell was strong. It was not a nice smell at all. The air was heavy with it. All the animals came to this house.
The Bear walked in. He smelled the bad air. He did not like it. He held his big nose with his paw. His face showed he was unhappy.
The Lion King saw the Bear. He saw the Bear's unhappy face. The King got very angry. "You do not like my house!" he roared. He sent the Bear away. The Bear left and did not come back.
The Monkey saw what happened. He was scared. He wanted to please the King. "Oh, King!" the Monkey said. "Your house smells so good! It is like a flower! Your anger is strong. Your claws are so great!"
The Lion King did not like this. He saw the Monkey was not true. He was angry again. "You lie to me!" the King said. He sent the Monkey away too. The Monkey disappeared.
Then the clever Fox came near. The Lion King looked at him. "Fox," the King asked, "What do you smell here? Tell me the truth."
The Fox thought quickly. He did not want to be sent away. "Oh, mighty King," the Fox said. "I have a very bad cold. My nose is blocked. I cannot smell anything today. I am so sorry, King."
The Lion King looked at the Fox. He could not be angry with him. The Fox was safe. He was very clever. He did not get sent away. It is smart to be clever. Do not be too honest. Do not praise too much. Stay safe.
Original Story
LA COUR DU LION.
Sa majesté lionne un jour voulut connaître
De quelles nations le Ciel l’avait fait maître.
Il manda donc par députés
Ses vassaux de toute nature,
Envoyant de tous les côtés
Une circulaire écriture
Avec son sceau. L’écrit portoit
Qu’un mois durant le roi tiendroit
Cour plénière, dont l’ouverture
Devoit être un fort grand festin,
Suivi des tours de Fagotin.
Par ce trait de magnificence
Le prince à ses sujets étaloit sa puissance.
En son Louvre il les invita.
Quel Louvre! un vrai charnier, dont l’odeur se porta
D’abord au nez des gens. L’ours boucha sa narine:
Il se fût bien passé de faire cette mine;
Sa grimace déplut: le monarque irrité
L’envoya chez Pluton faire le dégoûté.
Le singe approuva fort cette sévérité;
Et, flatteur excessif, il loua la colère
Et la griffe du prince, et l’antre, et cette odeur;
Il n’étoit ambre, il n’étoit fleur
Qui ne fût ail au prix. Sa sotte flatterie
Eut un mauvais succès, et fut encor punie:
Ce monseigneur du lion-là
Fut parent de Caligula.
Le renard étant proche: Or çà, lui dit le sire,
Que sens-tu? dis-le-moi; parle sans déguiser.
L’autre aussitôt de s’excuser,
Alléguant un grand rhume: il ne pouvoit que dire
Sans odorat. Bref, il s’en tire.
Ceci vous sert d’enseignement:
Ne soyez à la cour, si vous voulez y plaire,
Ni fade adulateur, ni parleur trop sincère,
Et tâchez quelquefois de répondre en Normand.
VIII
Story DNA
Moral
To survive in a powerful court, one must avoid both excessive flattery and blunt honesty, instead employing clever diplomacy.
Plot Summary
The Lion King summons his subjects to a grand court held in his foul-smelling charnel house. The Bear is killed for showing disgust, and the Monkey is punished for his excessive flattery. The clever Fox, when questioned, feigns a cold to avoid giving an opinion, thus escaping the Lion's wrath and demonstrating the prudence needed to survive in a dangerous court.
Themes
Emotional Arc
tension to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
La Fontaine's fables often satirized the court of Louis XIV, using animal characters to comment on human behavior and societal norms without direct criticism.
Plot Beats (10)
- The Lion King decides to summon all his subjects to a grand court to show his power.
- He sends out invitations for a month-long court, starting with a feast and entertainment.
- The court is held in his 'Louvre,' which is a charnel house with a terrible stench.
- The Bear, upon entering, visibly expresses his disgust by holding his nose.
- The Lion, angered by the Bear's honest reaction, has him killed.
- The Monkey, witnessing the Bear's fate, goes to the opposite extreme, praising the Lion's anger, claws, den, and even the foul smell as if it were perfume.
- The Lion, capricious like Caligula, punishes the Monkey for his excessive flattery.
- The Fox is then asked by the Lion what he thinks of the smell.
- The Fox cleverly claims to have a severe cold, rendering him unable to smell anything, thus avoiding giving an opinion.
- The Fox successfully escapes the Lion's wrath.
Characters
The Lion King
A massive, powerfully built African lion, standing tall and regal. His muscles ripple under his tawny fur, indicating immense strength. He has a broad chest and formidable paws tipped with sharp claws.
Attire: None, as he is an animal, but his natural fur and mane serve as his 'royal attire'.
Wants: To assert and display his absolute power and sovereignty over all his subjects, and to be flattered and admired.
Flaw: His extreme vanity and short temper make him susceptible to flattery and quick to condemn those who don't conform to his expectations, leading to rash and cruel decisions.
He remains unchanged, serving as a static representation of tyrannical power and the dangers of a despotic ruler.
Authoritarian, easily angered, vain, absolute, and demanding of flattery. He is quick to punish perceived disrespect.
The Bear
A large, shaggy brown bear, with a bulky, powerful build. His fur is thick and somewhat unkempt, and he has strong, heavy paws.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To survive the court, but his natural honesty prevents him from doing so. He simply reacts to his environment.
Flaw: His inability to feign politeness or hide his true feelings, which leads to his downfall in the Lion's court.
He serves as an example of the fate of those who are too honest or impolite in a tyrannical court.
Honest, straightforward, easily disgusted, and lacking in social graces or cunning. He is unable to hide his true feelings.
The Monkey
A slender, agile monkey with light brown fur and long limbs. He is smaller than the bear but quick and nimble.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To gain favor with the Lion King and avoid the Bear's fate by showering him with praise.
Flaw: His excessive flattery and lack of genuine sincerity, which are easily seen through by the astute (or simply annoyed) king.
He serves as an example of the fate of those who are too flattering and insincere in a tyrannical court.
Excessively flattering, sycophantic, insincere, and opportunistic. He tries too hard to please and lacks genuine judgment.
The Fox
A sleek, medium-sized fox with reddish-brown fur, a bushy tail, and a lean, agile build. His movements are fluid and cunning.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To survive the Lion King's court by cleverly avoiding both direct criticism and excessive flattery.
Flaw: His inherent caution, which could be seen as a lack of courage in other contexts, but serves him well here.
He successfully navigates a perilous situation, demonstrating the value of strategic ambiguity and wit in a dangerous court.
Cunning, quick-witted, diplomatic, and self-preserving. He is adept at navigating dangerous social situations.
Locations
The Lion's Court (Louvre)
A royal court, described as a true charnel house, filled with a strong, unpleasant odor. It is where the Lion King holds his full court and a grand feast.
Mood: Foreboding, dangerous, oppressive, with an underlying tension due to the king's unpredictable temper.
The Lion King convenes his vassals to assert his power. The Bear is executed for showing disgust at the smell, and the Monkey for excessive flattery. The Fox cleverly avoids punishment.