Animals from fables, fairy-tales and myths

[Winston]

It's quite interesting how different animals have been used in literature to symbolize different traits and aspects of human character. I think we're all to some extent influenced by this, in that we view certain animals, birds etc. with some well-established ideas of what virtues - or the opposite - they represent.

I thought it'd be fun to see just how many animals are symbolic to aspects of human behaviour. Below are some examples, see if you can come up with more!

The eagle is brave
The fox is sly and cunning
The lion is majestic and fearless
The swan is graceful
The owl is wise
The rabbit is ehm, promiscuous

[Dr Strangelove]

In which fairy tale are rabbits promiscuous? In American folk lore it is the rabbit (Br'er Rabbit) who is cunning. The fox is greedy and scheming, but not as smart as he thinks he is.

[Winston]

No fairy-tale specifically, but I think it's fair to say the rabbit is also widely perceived to be a bit on fire in its lower regions...

The bear is good-natured and sluggish.

[Spiffor]

The donkey is naive
The lamb is weak and gets screwed

[oedo]

the wulf is evil, agressive but stupid.
the roadrunner makes beep beep

[alva]

A dog is loyal
A cat is false
A donkey is stubborn

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Spiffor
The lamb is weak and gets screwed

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Spiffor
The lamb is weak and gets screwed

What about the wrath of the lamb and the Paracleet of Gaborkah?

[Sava]

the Sava is the king of all life

[asleepathewheel]

The squonk is always sad

[statusperfect]

The seagull is a happy bird.

[TheStinger]

The Panda is lazy and crap at sex

[oedo]

the squirrel......?

[statusperfect]

Originally posted by oedo
the squirrel......?

Has problems with his memory.

[Dr Strangelove]

Squirrel is courageous and smart. Rocky is always looking after his moose friend. They're patriotic too.

Donkey is chronically depressed. Pooh and his other friends invest a lot of time and energy to cheer him up. What kind of kid has fantasies about depressed animals? Christopher Robin needs to talk to a child psychiatrist. I think he has some dark issues.