How do Jean de La Fontaine’s Contes differ from his Fables?

Jean de La Fontaine’s Fables and Contes et nouvelles en vers differ significantly in purpose, tone, and artistic achievement:

• Artistic Standing: The Fables are considered the peak of La Fontaine’s career, representing a mastery of prosody and poetic diction. In contrast, the Contes are viewed as the work of an ingenious stylist rather than a poet, often lacking the depth and technical perfection found in the Fables.12
• Content and Tone: The Fables explore fundamental human moral experiences through animal characters and diverse settings, blending wit with a "gaiety" that invites reflection. The Contes, however, are defined by their licentiousness, which the author presents in a flippant, disguised manner. While the Fables offer timeless insights into human nature, the Contes are intended merely to amuse and are often considered monotonous.12
• Scope: The Contes exceed the Fables in total volume, yet they lack the rich sense of reality and the profound, reflective quality that characterize the Fables.12