Advanced French Class Translates French Fable

March 04, 2020

Students in my Advanced French (Francophone Fables, Fairy Tales, & Folktales) class recently learned first-hand that translation is truly an art.

The class worked together to translate “La Cigale et La Fourmi,” the fable by Jean de La Fontaine, into English. It was incredibly fun to see their creativity at work! No computers were allowed, but they could use old-school dictionaries. They did an awesome job staying true to the meaning and including the rhyme scheme and rhythm.

See for yourself....

“La Cigale et la Fourmi”

Jean de La Fontaine

1668

La cigale ayant chanté

Tout l’été,

Se trouva fort dépourvue

Quand la bise fut venue :

Pas un seul petit morceau

De mouche ou de vermisseau.

Elle alla crier famine

Chez la fourmi sa voisine,

La priant de lui prêter

Quelque grain pour subsister

Jusqu’à la saison nouvelle.

« Je vous paierai, lui dit-elle,

Avant l’août, foi d’animal,

Intérêt et principal. »

La fourmi n’est pas prêteuse :

C’est là son moindre défaut.

« Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud ?

Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse.

— Nuit et jour à tout venant

Je chantais, ne vous déplaise.

— Vous chantiez ? J’en suis fort aise :

Eh bien ! Dansez maintenant. »

“The Cricket and the Ant”

Advanced French Class

Spring 2020

The cricket was a hummer

All summer

She found herself so deprived

When the cold winds had arrived

There was not a thing to eat

Not plants, bugs, or any meat

She was screaming at the door

Of the ant, her stomach sore

She begged for her to supply

A bit of food to get by

“Just until there’s food for me

I will pay you back,” said she

“Before harvest, trust my word

What I owe you plus a third”

The ant does not like to share

It’s one of her smaller flaws

“What did you in summer’s pause?”

Said she with an angry glare

“Night and then day at all hours

I sang, not to bother you”

“You would sing, that’s what you do!

Good! Dance until spring flowers.”

 

 

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