Le Chene et Le Roseau
"Le Chêne 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 Chêne Et Le Roseau" is a universal one, easily recognized and understood by all. The poem's 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: "L'arbre tient bon; le roseau plie. Le vent redouble ses efforts, et fait si bien qu'il deracine 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 oak's strength is his weakness, wh
Fontaine writes "Le Chêne Et Le Roseau" as a narrative, didactic, and descriptive poem with an irregular number of syllables. It is narrative and didactic because he teaches a moral and tells a story through the use of nature with which he is intimately acquainted. The poem's descriptive words vividly contrast the reed and the oak. The narrative aspect of the poem has realistic dialogue which advances the plot and the traits of the characters. Fontaine's style of simplicity contributes to the easy understanding of this interesting poem. "Le Chêne Et Le Roseau" teaches a lasting lesson about human nature: the pompous oak is outlasted by a confident reed. This poem adds to one's understanding of the world by demonstrating that the weak can survive, while the strong can die. Fontaine uses logical sequence in developing the characters of the oak and the reed. At first, the reader only sees them as trees, but he soon learns through the oak that the reed appears weak and defenseless, and that the strong oak wishes to shelter and protect the reed. The reader next learns that the reed is confident and not afraid of impending dangers, because he bends and does not break. Then the terrible winds come and uproot the oak, while the small
Some common words found in the essay are:
La Fontaine, Le Roseau, Hades Greek, Caucasus Mountains, le chêne, le roseau, Et Le, Chêne Et, Le Chêne, le chêne et, chêne et le, chêne et, et le roseau, et le, oak reed, endurance flexibility, la fontaine, jean de, jean de la, de la fontaine, de la, de l'eau,
Approximate Word count = 840
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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