Animals are stylized characters in a kind of old saga -- stylized because even the most acute of them have little leeway as they play out their parts.

Summary

This quote suggests that animals in stories or sagas are portrayed as stylized characters, meaning that their behaviors and roles are exaggerated or exaggeratedly simplified. The quote further explains that even though animals can showcase intelligence or wisdom, their actions are often confined to specific roles in the narrative, leaving them with limited freedom to deviate or make independent choices. In this way, animals are depicted as fixed beings within the storytelling tradition, rather than being fully dynamic or complex like humans.

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