Reading
and being read to are a dominant part of childhood. From the moment we begin to
understand language, we are regaled with rhymes and bedtime stories. Most
stories written for children often have a moralizing aspect that aims at
inspiring a sense of right versus wrong in young minds. For those of us who
have read the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare”, even today, we immediately
connect it to the adage—slow and steady wins the race. This seemingly simple
and straightforward story and other fables—“The Ant and the Grasshopper” or
“The Little Red Hen”—seem to have a lasting impression on our minds.
What is it about these tales that has kept them alive for centuries and endured generations?
The common thread here is the talking animals that are central to the stories’ unfolding. Be it fables, classics, folk tales or modern satire, literature is replete with instances where animal characters have been used—allegorically, metaphorically or literally—to convey the essence of the story. From Aesop’s Fables to The Call of the wild to Animal Farm, animals have always had a special significance when it comes to story-telling.
Why animals?
Throughout history, animals have had a consistent presence in human tales, which is a testimony to the human-animal bond. This bond or a sense of association can be traced back to the time of early cave paintings. During the middle ages, men compiled elaborate encyclopaedias that documented mythical as well as real animals and their unique characteristics. Today, animals have become a part of the celluloid space as well. It would seem that wherever man goes, so do his beasts—but why?
Perhaps, the history of man is incomplete without his beasts. One of the theories posited by scholars is that using animal characters in stories and assigning them human characteristics allows humans to distance themselves from the actual incident and still experience the emotions or learn the lessons intended.
Whether written for children or adults, good literature works as a thinking device. Works of literature allow us to make sense of our world, understand our belief systems, have a dialogue with ourselves and others, question old systems and create new ones. Populating these works with animals that are similar to us allows us to experience these facets via proxy.
Anthropomorphism or assigning of human characteristics to animals is a device that is used in story-telling. Oral narration being the first mode of transmission of tales, early folklore typically employs anthropomorphism. However, all stories with anthropomorphic characters are not the same. Though the characters are essentially talking animals it is their representation (by the author) that marks the difference. For instance, the pigs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm are quite unlike the pigs from the children’s fable “Three Little Pigs”. While Orwell uses the pig to represent the ruling class of a society—greedy and unproductive—the talking pigs from the children’s story serve a didactic purpose about the benefits of quick thinking and strength in numbers.
What is it about these tales that has kept them alive for centuries and endured generations?
The common thread here is the talking animals that are central to the stories’ unfolding. Be it fables, classics, folk tales or modern satire, literature is replete with instances where animal characters have been used—allegorically, metaphorically or literally—to convey the essence of the story. From Aesop’s Fables to The Call of the wild to Animal Farm, animals have always had a special significance when it comes to story-telling.
Why animals?
Throughout history, animals have had a consistent presence in human tales, which is a testimony to the human-animal bond. This bond or a sense of association can be traced back to the time of early cave paintings. During the middle ages, men compiled elaborate encyclopaedias that documented mythical as well as real animals and their unique characteristics. Today, animals have become a part of the celluloid space as well. It would seem that wherever man goes, so do his beasts—but why?
Perhaps, the history of man is incomplete without his beasts. One of the theories posited by scholars is that using animal characters in stories and assigning them human characteristics allows humans to distance themselves from the actual incident and still experience the emotions or learn the lessons intended.
Whether written for children or adults, good literature works as a thinking device. Works of literature allow us to make sense of our world, understand our belief systems, have a dialogue with ourselves and others, question old systems and create new ones. Populating these works with animals that are similar to us allows us to experience these facets via proxy.
Anthropomorphism or assigning of human characteristics to animals is a device that is used in story-telling. Oral narration being the first mode of transmission of tales, early folklore typically employs anthropomorphism. However, all stories with anthropomorphic characters are not the same. Though the characters are essentially talking animals it is their representation (by the author) that marks the difference. For instance, the pigs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm are quite unlike the pigs from the children’s fable “Three Little Pigs”. While Orwell uses the pig to represent the ruling class of a society—greedy and unproductive—the talking pigs from the children’s story serve a didactic purpose about the benefits of quick thinking and strength in numbers.
In the case of graphic novels like Art Spiegelman’s Maus or, more recently, in Malik Sajad’s Munnu: A boy from Kashmir, symbolic and metaphoric visual
representation of anthropomorphic characters creates a richly layered and
compelling read. Owing to the emphasis on the visual quotient in a graphic
novel, it is inherently well suited to depict anthropomorphic characters.
Talking creatures imbued with life in full colour have a definitive impact on
the readers. In fact, one may forget to remember that the representation is not
always literal.
Campfire’s graphic novel adaptations of classics like The Call of the Wild, The
Wind in the Willows and The Jungle
Book have given readers an opportunity to enjoy this unique reading
experience. By bringing these well-loved characters to life Campfire’s
adaptations infuse them with a tangible quality that leaves the reader with a
lasting impression.
The case of The Jungle Book
An apt example of a timeless tale involving animal characters is, perhaps, The
Jungle Book. The book’s popularity led to its being made into an animated
series and a live-action film, more than once.
Jungle Book is as much a story for adults as it is for kids. There are
characters in it that all can identify with, irrespective of age. Animal
characters in stories appear under different guises. A loyal companion—the
eponymous hero of White Fang or Buck from
The Call of the Wild, an alter
ego—the Cheshire Cat from Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland, a trickster—wolf from The little Red Riding Hood,
a guide, a guardian or even a mentor. The
Jungle Book too has its share of such models. Each animal character in this
book also represents a quality or trait that is human. There is Baloo—a lovable
mentor and teacher, Bagheera—a manipulating schemer with shades of grey,
Kaa—the unpredictable ally, Shere Khan—the archenemy and Mowgli, the –
boy-who-talks-to-animals. In the book, Mowgli represents every/any person
trying to find his place within ‘the world’ (the jungle in his case).
The Jungle Book presents the
fantastical journey of a wild man-cub who defeats his nemesis and finds a home
with people who accept him as one of their own. As a narrative that uses
animals to convey human characteristics—familial love, friendship, loyalty,
courage and determination—the novel manages to connect with the reader every
time.
