Black Horse

The Hyena and the Heron

In short: Compare the Kriol fable from Guinea-Bissau with the French telling about a wolf and a stork.

The Hyena and the Heron · A bone stuck in the throat FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 201 The Hyena and the Heron Compare the Kriol fable from Guinea-Bissau with the French telling about a wolf and a stork. Origin A Kriol fable from Guinea-Bissau and La Fontaine’s French fable share the episode of removing a bone. The editions record distinct tellings. Atlas record 1678 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF A bone stuck in the throat Reach¹ 2/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 3 records · 2 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

A Kriol fable from Guinea-Bissau and La Fontaine’s French fable share the episode of removing a bone. The editions record distinct tellings.

A bone sticks in Hyena’s throat and Heron removes it with a long bill. When Heron asks to be paid, Hyena treats getting out alive as payment enough. La Fontaine stages the same danger with Wolf and Stork. In the Kriol text published by Couto, the listeners also answer the teller as the fable unfolds.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1678 · Paris, France
    Jean de La Fontaine · Le Loup et la Cicogne · Barbin and Thierry, III.9
  2. 1883 · Guinea-Bissau · Kriol telling
    Marcelino Marques de Barros · A fraternidade, Guiné a Cabo Verde · cited by Couto, PAPIA 18, p. 83 · Published collection
  3. 1994 · Guinea-Bissau · Kriol telling
    Hildo Honório do Couto · O crioulo português da Guiné-Bissau · Lobo co garça · Published collection

Country pages

Fairy Tale Glossary

Origin
Black Horse. The Hyena and the Heron. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-hyena-heron-bone/