Home › Glossary › Letter R

Reynard the Fox

Folklore
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Trickster fox in medieval European beast epics, outwitting stronger animals

Detailed Definition
Reynard satirizes feudal society and clergy. In poetry, he embodies cunning, social critique, and the subversion of hierarchy, frequently appearing in allegorical or picaresque works.
Example
Example in poetry:
Reynard the Fox, medieval trickster, appears in satirical poetry: "Reynard bows to King Noble—then steals the crown and flees the court"; Poets use him to critique power: "While wolves make laws, Reynard laughs—truth lives in cunning, not in thrones"; In allegorical verse, he embodies survival: "Hunted, trapped, yet always free—Reynard’s wit outshines the hounds"; His tales inspire animal fable form: "Reynard’s trial: a mirror bright—showing fools and knaves their face"
Additional Notes
Reynard the Fox: The cunning protagonist of medieval European beast epics (originating in France), using wit to outmaneuver stronger foes like Isengrim the Wolf. Embodies satire, social critique, and the triumph of intelligence over brute force. In poetry, Reynard serves as an allegory for resistance, class subversion, or rhetorical strategy. Essential in political or metapoetic works; note his influence on Chaucer, Goethe, and modern trickster archetypes—avoid reducing him to a simple animal fable.
Also Known As
Reynard Renard the Fox Master Reynard
Skip to main content