Von emsigen Ameisen und schlafenden Löwen. Zu ›narratio‹ und ›moralisatio‹ im ›Reinhart Fuchs‹

Abstract

This contribution looks at the ant epic to examine the relationship between narratio and moralisatio in ‘Reinhart Fuchs’ (The History of Reynard the Fox). Proceeding from the positive moral charge, leaderless societies and tremendous strength of the ants, we follow how the beast epic first establishes the ants and their lord in contrast to the lion king as an example of unconditional social loyalty and, drawing on heroic epic and heroics, sacrificial heroism. In the end, however, the text breaks with this ideal, as the ant lord ultimately proves self-serving and susceptible to Reinhart’s trickery. The narrative processes thus bring about the complete dissolution of moral ideality.