Reading Notes: Saint Blaise and His Beasts, Part A

·      “In the days when it was fashionable to be a heathen”

o   Does this mean that being mean was in style

o   Heathen may refer to individuals that are not faithful Christians

·      Author focuses on Blaise’s uniqueness compared to other boys his age

o   Emphasizes his kindness to all manner of creature

·      Mentions how the creatures change and act differently in his presence, which highlights the effect he has on them

·      Blaise can speak to the creatures

o   The creatures seem to have a relatively elementary understanding of English, which is shown when the wolf responds to Blaise

·      Do the animals worship Saint Blaise because of his affiliation to Christianity?

·      Is there any meaning behind Saint Blaise being beheaded? 

 Bibliography: Story source: The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown (1900).

Saint Blaise. Source: Wikimedia Commons.