SOURCE: "Narrative Techniques in the Contes et Nouvelles en Vers of La Fontaine," in French Literature Series, Vol. 11, 1975, pp. 27-38.

In the following essay, Cauley argues that La Fontaine uses his Contes or Tales to examine narrative itself, relying as he does upon such techniques as narrators within the narrative, "authorial interventions," and interruptions by those who are listening to the tale within the tale.

La Fontaine's Contes were admired by his contemporaries but fell into disfavor, largely because of their frequently licentious subject matter. After a long period of neglect, the Contes have regained much of their prestige and have recently been treated in several excellent studies.¹ One reason for the renewed critical attention is La Fontaine's lucid interest in narrative possibilities.

The best Contes of La Fontaine do not simply tell a story—they depict the telling of a story. In these tales La Fontaine is...