Abstract

The major contribution that animal imagery makes to Lope de Vega's Fuente Ovejuna has not been thoroughly explored by critics. Lope was inspired by such imagery found in works by his predecessors and contemporaries when he composed this masterpiece. The dramatist utilized animal references from bestiaries, folktales, ancient myths, and books by renowned authors as a point of departure for creating an allegorical dimension in the characters of his great play.

This paper studies Lope's employment of animal imagery in Fuente Ovejuna and the effects produced by the resulting allegorical dimension of his characters. These effects are: 1) the development of an intense contrast between the forces of good (the noble peasants) and evil (the villainous Fernán Gómez and his men), 2) the vivid and in-depth portrayal of the main characters, and 3) the entertainment of both the educated reader of Lope's day with recognizable allusions to ancient, medieval, and Golden Age literature and the less cultured reader with references to folklore. Although there are animal references in other plays by Lope, the large number of bestial comparisons in Fuente Ovejuna and the well-developed allegorical dimension that they add to his characters shed light on Lope's creative talent and enhance the reader's understanding of the play.

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