Le Chene et Le Roseau essays

Le Chene et Le Roseau essays Analysis of Le Chà ªne Et Le Roseau Le Chà ªne Et Le Roseau, a poem by Jean de La Fontaine, shows the contrast of the characters while moralizing about hidden strengths that are often overlooked or belittled. In this poem, the oak is personified as having a stubborn sense of strength, while the humble reed is represented as possessing the qualities of endurance, flexibility, and hidden strength. Fontaine teaches the reader his lesson through the use of nature by having the oak and the reed converse about their strengths. In the end the reed proves his point when the north wind uproots the oak, leaving it to die. The theme of Le Chà ªne Et Le Roseau is a universal one, easily recognized and understood by all. The poems central idea is that strength is not necessarily size and power, but in adaptability, endurance, and flexibility. Fontaine illustrates the theme well in these lines: Larbre tient bon; le roseau plie. Le vent redouble ses efforts, et fait si bien quil dracine celui... The poet further develops the theme with a moral which implies that humility is more important than pride. Fontaine places most emphasis on idea to help develop this moral. In the end, the pompous oaks strength is his weakness, while the humble reeds suppleness is his fortitude. Jean de La Fontaine develops well the poems mood, one of pity, compassion, and respect, through sensory images and descriptions of the characters. These lines: Un roitelet pour vous est un pesant fardeau; and Le moindre vent qui daventure fait rider la face de leau, vous oblige baisser la tà ªte; , as well as La nature vous me semble bien injuste. illustrate the sentimental atmosphere of pity that the reader feels for the reeds struggle against relatively small difficulties. Although Fontaine succeeds in creating t...