Sheep in LiteratureJanuary 19, 2015

Chinese New Year will be celebrated in a few weeks' time. It will be the Year of the Sheep. It's the eighth sign of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac. The sheep is known to be gentle and docile, but it's not easy to domesticate. Any animals (in the Chinese calendar) who share the same trait with this furry mammal are bound to be lucky this year. But they have to work it out. (It's a farm animal, remember?)

In literature, readers would be pressed hard to remember the appearance of the sheep (or goat) in a written work. It's true that it's not frequent (unlike the horse). But they play an important role. Here are some of those works:

The Tale of Jason and the Argonauts. This is one of the most dramatic tales in Greek mythology, about the son of the King of Iolcos who seeks to be the rightful heir to the throne. But he must find the Golden Fleece, which comes from the golden-haired, winged ram. The sight of it will make anyone kneel and bow down. The fleece is located in the island of Colchis, so Jason and the Argonauts must set sail. Alas, it become a footnote after Jason and Medea become husband and wife. It's a tragedy from there. (Those who are unfamiliar with this story need not worry. Rick Riordan includes these characters in his series on Percy Jackson and the modern-day demigods.)

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. It's a popular nursery rhyme, and in case you have no idea, then you might have a peculiar childhood. The original version of the lines alludes to the hefty tax imposed on wools during the 18th century. (It was written in 1744.) It's a very clever way to express dismay on such an important issue back then. But slave trade? You have to be a literary genius in able to detect it between the lines. All of these will be uninteresting to children, as they rather listen to it while in bed. It's not hard to count... before sleep.

Rosemary's Baby. It's about another ram, but this one is more of a representation. A sinister one. A young couple are starting a new life in New York. He has a new acting job, while she's expecting a baby. But the new apartment has a history. The neighbours seem too good to be true. Nothing makes sense until the baby is born. Ira Levin's novel is meant to scare anyone, but it's really about the anxiety - and paranoia - of living in the big city.

Did we forget something? Let us know.

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