Existe-t-il des topoï spécifiques aux animaux ?

Abstract

<p>Are they any animal topoi, or are they merely pre-existing topoi that include animals through anthropomorphisation? The aim of this paper is to extend Sator's reflections on the birdsongs of the fables, which are at once zoological observations, toposemes and typemes. The analysis will focus on the Roman de Renart, the Fables de La Fontaine and the Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux, three sets of short narratives in which the animals at the centre are sometimes the narrators. There are several reasons for this choice of texts: the variety of narrative situations and species represented, both wild and domestic, and a certain homogeneity in the ideological context of each work.</p><p>After a preliminary survey of the first Satorbase, I will analyse the narrative and topical treatment of situations specific to animals (eating, noises, migrations) before observing the most frequent topoi (such as tricking the trickster, hunger, an assembly of animals chooses a king or a representative), their narrative configurations and any variations.</p><p>This topical examination will provide an opportunity to consider the status of animals in society: do the topoi reflect these changes? do they incorporate new animals? are they influenced by the gradual emergence of pets in the bourgeoisie?</p>