Author: A. S. Vanyukov (Russian State University for the Humanities)

Keywords\n Life of Aesop, folktale, realistic tale, master and farmhand, slavery

Pages\n 119–132

Summary\n: The article deals with the similarity between “Bargain not to get angry” (ATU 1000–1029) folktales and the part of anonymous Life of Aesop (LA). In both cases, the worker does harm to his master by executing the master’s orders in the wrong way. The contract terms forbid both parties to get angry in response. Variety of this folktale type seems to be enormous. But in spite of all the differences the core of a tale emerges from the same pattern. - Conclusion of labor contract; - Service of worker (masters’ sufferings); - Masters’ attempts to abrogate a contract (inter alia by giving difficult orders); - Termination of labor contract (masters sustain heavy losses) Breach of the term not to get angry entails various punishments (beating, mutilation, monetary penalty). Master tries to maim his worker or to exploit him to the utmost (for instance, a worker who got angry should work for no payment). Master’s goal determines the type of command – easily understandable (sometimes infringing upon worker's interests), impossible, deathful task, or riddle. The worker may respond in different ways. Against his master’s expectations, he executes deathful commands and solves riddles. He ignores impossible tasks (at the same time inflicting damage on master’s property). Finally, he misinterprets commands that are easy to perform. Arguably that LA (G38-64) was fashioned on the template similar to that of a folktale. - Xanthos establishes an order: Aesop should not do anything more or less than he has been ordered to do. - Xanthos’ tasks are easy to execute. Aesop misinterprets them. - Xanthos’ tasks are difficult to execute (he tries to find a pretext for whipping). Aesop carries them out. - Xanthos cancels order established at the beginning of the passage. Thus, LA has some features different from the folktale. The folktale confrontation is based on economic and material grounds. In the case of LA it is not so. As a slave, Aesop is incapable to make a bargain. There is a clash of wills and intentions. LA is an updated version of “Bargain not to get angry” folktale. W. Hansen examined the same subject in a chapter of his Ariadne’s Thread: A Guide to international tales found in classical literature (2002). To a degree this article is devoted to discussing his attitude toward the problem.

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