Literary notes about immolate (AI summary)
The term "immolate" is employed in literature to evoke the act of sacrificial burning, often laden with ritualistic or symbolic significance. In Aristophanes' use, found in example [1], "immolate" denotes a direct, literal sacrifice—an offer made through the burning of a victim—which underscores the dramatic and often fatal consequences within the play. Meanwhile, in the fable by La Fontaine referenced in example [2], the word is applied in a broader, less literal context, where the ritualistic sacrifice of a bullock serves as a tribute, imbued with both religious devotion and the biting commentary typical of fables. Together, these examples illustrate how "immolate" has traversed contexts from overtly violent theatrical interpretations to more nuanced, allegorical usages in literature.