Introduction: “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
“The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine first appeared in 1678 as part of his Fables, a celebrated collection of poetic stories blending morality with wit, often translated into English and other languages. This fable cleverly explores themes of fear, perception, and the tyranny of baseless accusations, reflecting universal human concerns. The hare, perceiving the shadow of his own ears, irrationally fears they will be mistaken for horns, declaring, “My ears, should I stay here, Will turn to horns, I fear.” His paranoia and decision to flee demonstrate the folly of allowing fear to dictate actions. The cricket’s retort, “God made them ears who can deny?” underscores the absurdity of succumbing to imagined dangers. The fable’s enduring popularity lies in its satirical take on societal paranoia and the consequences of irrational self-doubt, making it an engaging commentary on human nature.
Text: “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
Some beast with horns did gore
The lion; and that sovereign dread,
Resolved to suffer so no more,
Straight banish’d from his realm, ’tis said,
All sorts of beasts with horns –
Rams, bulls, goats, stags, and unicorns.
Such brutes all promptly fled.
A hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving,
Could hardly help believing
That some vile spy for horns would take them,
And food for accusation make them.
‘Adieu,’ said he, ‘my neighbour cricket;
I take my foreign ticket.
My ears, should I stay here,
Will turn to horns, I fear;
And were they shorter than a bird’s,
I fear the effect of words.’
‘These horns!’ the cricket answer’d; ‘why,
God made them ears who can deny?’
‘Yes,’ said the coward, ‘still they’ll make them horns,
And horns, perhaps of unicorns!
In vain shall I protest,
With all the learning of the schools:
My reasons they will send to rest
In th’ Hospital of Fools.’[2]
Annotations: “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
| Line | Annotation |
| Some beast with horns did gore the lion; | Refers to an incident where a horned animal attacked the lion, symbolizing a challenge to authority or sovereignty. |
| And that sovereign dread, Resolved to suffer so no more, | The lion, as a ruler, represents absolute power. His reaction to banish horned beasts shows how fear can dictate harsh decisions. |
| Straight banish’d from his realm, ’tis said, | Establishes the lion’s decree, a metaphor for authoritarian governance removing perceived threats. |
| All sorts of beasts with horns – Rams, bulls, goats, stags, and unicorns. | A list emphasizing the extent of the ban, showcasing the lion’s irrationality in targeting all horned animals. |
| Such brutes all promptly fled. | Depicts the reaction of the banished animals, signifying compliance or fear of authority. |
| A hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving, | The hare sees the shadow of his own ears and imagines them as horns, highlighting paranoia and self-doubt. |
| Could hardly help believing That some vile spy for horns would take them, And food for accusation make them. | The hare fears being falsely accused of possessing horns, representing the anxiety of living under oppressive rule. |
| ‘Adieu,’ said he, ‘my neighbour cricket; I take my foreign ticket.’ | The hare decides to flee, expressing his decision in farewell to the cricket, embodying a cowardly response to fear. |
| ‘My ears, should I stay here, Will turn to horns, I fear; | Reflects the hare’s irrational fear that his ears might be misconstrued as horns, showing how fear distorts reality. |
| And were they shorter than a bird’s, I fear the effect of words.’ | Suggests the power of words and rumors in creating danger, even when physical evidence is absent. |
| ‘These horns!’ the cricket answer’d; ‘why, God made them ears who can deny?’ | The cricket uses reason and logic, asserting that the hare’s ears are unmistakably not horns, symbolizing rationality. |
| ‘Yes,’ said the coward, ‘still they’ll make them horns, And horns, perhaps of unicorns! | The hare insists that others might falsely interpret his ears as horns, illustrating persistent paranoia. |
| In vain shall I protest, With all the learning of the schools: | Reflects a cynical view that even reason and education cannot counteract baseless accusations. |
| My reasons they will send to rest In th’ Hospital of Fools.’ | Concludes with the hare’s belief that his logical arguments will be dismissed, showing a fear of irrational judgment. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
| Device | Example | Explanation |
| Allegory | The lion’s decree to ban horned animals. | Represents the irrational fear and authoritarian rule that leads to unfair judgments. |
| Alliteration | “Could hardly help believing.” | The repetition of the “h” sound adds a rhythmic quality to the narrative. |
| Allusion | “Horns, perhaps of unicorns!” | Refers to mythical creatures, adding a layer of fantasy and exaggeration to the hare’s paranoia. |
| Anthropomorphism | The hare fearing his ears might be seen as horns. | Animals are given human traits, such as reasoning and dialogue, to convey moral lessons. |
| Assonance | “Adieu,” said he, “my neighbour cricket.” | The repetition of vowel sounds, such as “ee,” enhances the musicality of the text. |
| Cautionary Tale | The hare’s decision to flee out of fear. | Serves as a warning about irrational fears and self-doubt, a common feature of La Fontaine’s fables. |
| Dialogue | “Adieu,” said he, “my neighbour cricket.” | The interaction between the hare and cricket drives the story and presents contrasting viewpoints. |
| Enjambment | “My ears, should I stay here, / Will turn to horns, I fear.” | The continuation of a sentence without pause emphasizes the hare’s anxiety and rushed thoughts. |
| Exaggeration | “Horns, perhaps of unicorns!” | The hare exaggerates his fear, highlighting the absurdity of paranoia. |
| Foreshadowing | “The shadow of his ears perceiving.” | Suggests the hare’s fears and actions later in the fable. |
| Hyperbole | “My ears, should I stay here, / Will turn to horns, I fear.” | An extreme overstatement used to emphasize the hare’s irrational fears. |
| Imagery | “The shadow of his ears perceiving.” | Visual imagery creates a vivid picture of the hare’s moment of paranoia. |
| Irony | “God made them ears who can deny?” | The cricket’s logical statement contrasts with the hare’s irrational fears, creating situational irony. |
| Moral | The consequences of irrational fear and paranoia. | The fable teaches a lesson about the dangers of letting fear dominate reasoning. |
| Parable | The entire story. | A simple story with animals that delivers a moral lesson about human behavior. |
| Paradox | “My ears… will turn to horns, I fear.” | The hare fears an impossibility, highlighting the absurdity of his paranoia. |
| Personification | The cricket speaks logically and the hare acts emotionally. | Animals are given human attributes to make the moral lesson more relatable. |
| Satire | The lion’s irrational decree and the hare’s overreaction. | Critiques fear-driven governance and societal paranoia through humor and exaggeration. |
| Symbolism | The hare’s ears symbolize innocence, and the lion symbolizes power. | Objects and characters are used as symbols to convey deeper meanings about fear and authority. |
| Tone | A mix of humor and seriousness. | The lighthearted dialogue contrasts with the serious underlying moral, making the fable engaging. |
Themes: “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
1. Fear and Irrationality: The theme of fear and irrationality is central to “The Ears of The Hare”. The hare’s paranoia about his ears being mistaken for horns reflects the way fear can distort reality and lead to unreasonable actions. Despite the cricket’s logical reassurance, “God made them ears who can deny?” the hare remains consumed by fear, responding, “Still they’ll make them horns, and horns, perhaps of unicorns!” This exaggerated anxiety highlights how individuals often succumb to baseless fears, even when presented with reason. La Fontaine critiques how fear not only affects personal judgment but also leads to unnecessary self-imposed exile, as seen in the hare’s decision to leave. The hare’s actions serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of irrational fears.
2. Authority and Oppression: The fable critiques the misuse of authority through the lion’s decree, which banishes all horned animals, including mythical ones like unicorns. The lion’s response to being gored by a horned beast represents the overreach of power driven by fear: “Straight banish’d from his realm, ’tis said, All sorts of beasts with horns.” This act of oppression creates widespread panic among the animals, even affecting those who pose no threat, like the hare. The lion’s irrational edict symbolizes authoritarian rulers who make sweeping decisions to protect their power, often disregarding reason and fairness. La Fontaine uses the lion’s behavior to comment on how unchecked authority can instill fear and disrupt societal harmony.
3. Paranoia and Self-Doubt: The hare’s internal struggle showcases the destructive power of paranoia and self-doubt. Though his ears are harmless, the hare projects his fear of misinterpretation onto them, saying, “My ears, should I stay here, Will turn to horns, I fear.” This demonstrates how individuals often create problems out of imagined scenarios, leading to unnecessary anxiety and poor decisions. The hare’s belief that his logical protests would be ignored—”In vain shall I protest, with all the learning of the schools”—underscores how paranoia can erode confidence in one’s ability to advocate for truth. Through the hare, La Fontaine illustrates how self-doubt magnifies perceived threats, paralyzing rational action.
4. Reason vs. Folly: A key theme in the fable is the tension between reason and folly. The cricket serves as a voice of logic and reason, questioning the hare’s fear: “These horns! the cricket answer’d; why, God made them ears who can deny?” Despite the cricket’s rationality, the hare succumbs to his folly, choosing to flee rather than trust reason. This conflict highlights the broader societal issue of ignoring evidence-based logic in favor of irrational fears. The hare’s conclusion, “My reasons they will send to rest in th’ Hospital of Fools,” reflects a pessimistic view that reason often loses to ignorance in the face of widespread fear. La Fontaine uses this dynamic to emphasize the importance of critical thinking and rationality in overcoming baseless fears.
Literary Theories and “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
| Literary Theory | Application to “The Ears of The Hare” | References from the Poem |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Focuses on the hare’s internal conflict and paranoia, reflecting Freudian concepts of fear and the unconscious mind. The hare’s irrational fear of his ears being mistaken for horns mirrors anxiety stemming from imagined threats. | “A hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving, Could hardly help believing That some vile spy for horns would take them.” |
| Postcolonial Theory | Explores the power dynamics and exclusion represented by the lion’s decree. The banishment of horned animals can be interpreted as a metaphor for marginalization or othering, where perceived differences (horns) result in oppression. | “Straight banish’d from his realm, ’tis said, All sorts of beasts with horns – Rams, bulls, goats, stags, and unicorns.” |
| Structuralist Theory | Analyzes the binary oppositions within the fable, such as fear vs. reason, authority vs. individuality, and reality vs. perception. These opposites structure the moral and thematic layers of the text. | “These horns! the cricket answer’d; ‘why, God made them ears who can deny?'” vs. “Still they’ll make them horns, and horns, perhaps of unicorns!” |
| Marxist Theory | Highlights class and power struggles, interpreting the lion as a figure of ruling authority and the hare as a powerless subject. The lion’s decision to ban horned animals represents the ruling class’s arbitrary exercise of power to maintain control. | “In vain shall I protest, With all the learning of the schools: My reasons they will send to rest In th’ Hospital of Fools.” |
Critical Questions about “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
1. How does fear shape the actions of the hare in “The Ears of The Hare,” and what does this reveal about human behavior?
Fear dominates the hare’s actions throughout the poem, leading him to irrational decisions. The hare, seeing the shadow of his ears, believes they might be mistaken for horns and remarks, “My ears, should I stay here, Will turn to horns, I fear.” This unfounded anxiety showcases how fear can distort perception and compel individuals to act against their best interests. Despite the cricket’s logical reassurance, “God made them ears who can deny?” the hare chooses to flee. This reflects a universal human tendency to let fear dictate actions, often amplifying imagined threats into significant concerns. La Fontaine critiques this aspect of human behavior, showing how irrational fears can override reason and lead to unnecessary self-imposed exile or avoidance.
2. What does the lion’s decree in “The Ears of The Hare” suggest about the use of power and authority?
The lion’s decision to banish all horned animals represents the misuse of authority driven by fear. His reaction, “Straight banish’d from his realm, ’tis said, All sorts of beasts with horns,” is an exaggerated and irrational response to a singular event—being gored by a horned beast. This decree, which even includes mythical creatures like unicorns, underscores the dangers of authoritarian power exercised without fairness or rationality. It suggests that those in positions of authority often act in self-preservation, disregarding the consequences for others. La Fontaine uses this decree to critique the arbitrary nature of power, where the fear of losing control can result in harmful policies or decisions that alienate and oppress.
3. How does the cricket serve as a voice of reason in “The Ears of The Hare,” and why does the hare ignore it?
The cricket’s role in the poem is to provide a rational counterpoint to the hare’s paranoia. When the hare fears his ears will be seen as horns, the cricket responds calmly, “These horns! the cricket answer’d; ‘why, God made them ears who can deny?'” This logical explanation highlights the absurdity of the hare’s concerns. However, the hare dismisses this reasoning, stating, “Still they’ll make them horns, and horns, perhaps of unicorns!” The hare’s refusal to accept the cricket’s perspective reflects how fear can overpower logic, leaving individuals trapped in their anxieties. La Fontaine uses this interaction to demonstrate that reason often struggles to prevail when individuals are entrenched in their irrational fears, a commentary on the difficulty of combating paranoia with logic.
4. What moral lesson does “The Ears of The Hare” impart about judgment and perception?
The fable warns against the dangers of baseless judgment and misperception, both from external forces and within oneself. The lion’s decree represents the societal tendency to judge based on superficial traits, as he punishes all horned animals regardless of their actual threat. Similarly, the hare’s internal misjudgment of his own ears reflects a personal inability to perceive reality accurately: “A hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving, Could hardly help believing That some vile spy for horns would take them.” Together, these examples highlight how both societal and personal judgments can lead to irrational outcomes. La Fontaine teaches that clarity of perception and avoidance of paranoia are essential to fostering fairness and rationality, both in individual behavior and collective decision-making.
Literary Works Similar to “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
- “The Frog and the Ox” by Jean de La Fontaine
Similarity: This fable-poem by the same poet also uses anthropomorphic animals to convey a moral lesson, focusing on themes of envy and the dangers of overestimating oneself. - “The Spider and the Fly” by Mary Howitt
Similarity: Both poems use animal characters to illustrate moral themes, with Howitt’s poem warning against flattery and deception, akin to La Fontaine’s allegorical critiques of human behavior. - “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” by William Blake
Similarity: Blake’s poems use contrasting animal symbols to explore profound truths about innocence and experience, paralleling La Fontaine’s use of animals to critique societal dynamics. - “The Grasshopper and the Cricket” by Leigh Hunt
Similarity: This poem, like “The Ears of The Hare,” uses a cricket as a symbolic character, emphasizing nature’s lessons and the contrast between perspective and action. - “The Peacock and the Crane” by Aesop (translated into verse by various poets)
Similarity: This fable-poem, like La Fontaine’s, uses animals to convey moral lessons about perception and value, critiquing vanity and misplaced priorities.
Representative Quotations of “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Some beast with horns did gore the lion; and that sovereign dread…” | Refers to the incident that triggers the lion’s decree to banish all horned animals. | Postcolonial Theory: Reflects fear-driven authoritarian control and exclusion. |
| “Straight banish’d from his realm, ’tis said, all sorts of beasts with horns…” | The lion’s irrational decision to remove perceived threats from his kingdom. | Marxist Theory: Highlights misuse of power by the ruling class. |
| “A hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving, could hardly help believing…” | Describes the hare’s paranoia upon seeing his own shadow, fearing misinterpretation. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Illustrates internalized anxiety and fear of judgment. |
| “My ears, should I stay here, will turn to horns, I fear…” | The hare’s exaggerated fear that others will mistake his ears for horns. | Structuralist Theory: Explores the binary of reality vs. perception. |
| “Adieu, said he, my neighbour cricket; I take my foreign ticket.” | The hare bids farewell to the cricket, choosing to flee rather than face imagined danger. | Existential Theory: Demonstrates the hare’s choice of self-preservation over reason. |
| “God made them ears who can deny?” | The cricket’s logical reassurance to the hare, emphasizing reality over fear. | Rationalist Perspective: Represents reason and logic against paranoia. |
| “Still they’ll make them horns, and horns, perhaps of unicorns!” | The hare dismisses logic, imagining extreme outcomes of his fears. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Shows the hare’s fixation on irrational projections. |
| “In vain shall I protest, with all the learning of the schools…” | The hare expresses futility in reasoning against societal misjudgments. | Poststructuralist Theory: Critiques how societal narratives undermine individual voice. |
| “My reasons they will send to rest in th’ Hospital of Fools.” | The hare resigns to the idea that his logical arguments would be dismissed. | Foucault’s Theory of Power and Knowledge: Highlights the marginalization of dissenting voices. |
| “Such brutes all promptly fled.” | Describes the horned animals’ immediate compliance with the lion’s decree. | Social Contract Theory: Explores submission to authority out of fear of punishment. |
Suggested Readings: “The Ears of The Hare” by Jean de La Fontaine
- Doré, Gustave. Doré’s Illustrations for the Fables of la Fontaine. Courier Corporation, 2013.
- McGowan, Margaret M. “Moral Intention in the Fables of La Fontaine.” Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 29, 1966, pp. 264–81. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/750719. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.
- Wadsworth, Philip A. “The Art of Allegory in La Fontaine’s Fables.” The French Review, vol. 45, no. 6, 1972, pp. 1125–35. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/388503. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.
- Danner, G. Richard. “La Fontaine’s Ironic Vision in the Fables.” The French Review, vol. 50, no. 4, 1977, pp. 562–71. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/389376. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.
- Ridgely, Beverly S. “Astrology and Astronomy in the Fables of La Fontaine.” PMLA, vol. 80, no. 3, 1965, pp. 180–89. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/461265. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.