FV 058 : Life of Jean de La Fontaine

Transcript Vocab List Questions Buy Full Notes Do you know Jean de La Fontaine? He was the most famous French fable writer – does The Hare and the Turtle ring a bell? Find out more about his life and legacy in this episode! Episode Timeline [04 min 49 sec] Who was Jean de La Fontaine ? [07 min 24 sec] An approximate date of birth [09 min 00 sec] Describing Jean de La Fontaine’s house [11 min 15 sec] Jean de La Fontaine’s father [13 min 09 sec] What Jean de La Fontaine liked [14 min 25 sec] Did Jean de La Fontaine live from his writing ? [16 min 55 sec] The art of conversation [18 min 25 sec] What makes the fables successful [22 min 18 sec] Jean de La Fontaine’s most famous fable ? [24 min 52 sec] Jean de La Fontaine’s confession [26 min 40 sec] Repenting [28 min 58 sec] Brigida’s favourite fable Links & Resources www.musee-jean-de-la-fontaine.fr La Cigale et la Fourmi La cigale ayant chanté Tout l'été, Se trouva fort dépourvue Quand la bise fut venue : Pas un seul petit morceau De mouche ou de vermisseau. Elle alla crier famine Chez la fourmi sa voisine, La priant de lui prêter Quelque grain pour subsister Jusqu’à la saison nouvelle. « Je vous paierai, lui dit-elle, Avant l’août, foi d’animal, Intérêt et principal. » La fourmi n’est pas prêteuse : C’est là son moindre défaut. « Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud ? Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse. — Nuit et jour à tout venant Je chantais, ne vous déplaise. — Vous chantiez ? J’en suis fort aise : Eh bien ! Dansez maintenant. » (a translation by Don Webb - http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue209/cigale.html) The cricket had sung her song all summer long but found her victuals too few when the north wind blew. Nowhere could she espy a single morsel of worm or fly. Her neighbor, the ant, might, she thought, help her in her plight, and she begged her for a little grain till summer would come back again. "By next August I’ll repay both Interest and principal; animal’s oath." Now, the ant may have a fault or two But lending is not something she will do. She asked what the cricket did in summer. "By night and day, to any comer I sang whenever I had the chance." "You sang, did you? That’s nice. Now dance." Did you like this podcast? You can support my work by leaving a review on iTunes. Your kind words warm my heart and also help me be found by more passionate learners of French. Merci beaucoup! Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and never miss a new episode!