RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
A1 Tureková, Andrea
T1 The bestiary in the libertine tale
JF Romanica Olomucensia
YR 2018
VO 30
IS 1
SP 139
OP 152
DO 10.5507/ro.2018.009
UL https://romanica.upol.cz/artkey/rom-201801-0009.php
AB The animal is an integral part of the literary fancy, and especially the fancy of the marvellous. Yet the birth of the fairy tale as a literary genre is situated at the end of the 17<sup>th</sup> century. The keen interest in fairy tales, strengthened by the entrance of the oriental fairy tale in the early 18<sup>th</sup> century, brought, together with the influence of libertinism, a parodic reaction. The question is, then, in view of parodic processes and the presence of libertinism in these fairy tales, to understand how animals (as a traditionally inseparable element of the fairy tale) enter storytellers' critical and subversive intentions. A corpus of representative tales on this subject enables the diverse ways of using animals as characters to be approached. Three categories of animals as characters are thus studied: first, metamorphosed heroes, then the adjuvant and opponent animals, and, finally, the "scenery" animals. Each of these categories, also identifiable in the "traditional" tale, presents modifications that are specific to the parodic and licentious nature of stories. The analysis of the bestiary in the libertine tale leads to the conclusion that the animal, which is inseparable from the traditional marvel, becomes only a rather necessary pretext for subverting the genre. And if many authors respect this convention typical of the land of fairy, it is to better submit it to the spirit of derision.