Simbología e imágenes de animales en la obra de Gonzalo de Berceo

the analysis of the ways in which animals were represented and their function in gonzalo de berceo's work enables us to observe a tendency to represent them in ways which convey significant analogical relationships charged with symbolical meaning. although the number of real animals is greater than the imaginary or fantastic ones, they all play an active role in the christian supernatural world which is full of marvels, either in association with the virgin or the devil, or by participating in miracles or visions. thus, medieval animal imagery plays a symbolical role in answer to christian ideas and exerts its influence mainly in the sphere of morality.