LESSON 5: EXPRESSION EXERCISES

FABLES

A fable is a narrative no longer than a short story, so structured as to conclude

with a moral. The term derives itself from the Latin fabula and includes the root
faber which means maker or artificer. A fable makes symbolic use of animals as
characters, and may be rendered in prose or verse, though it is principally
narrated in prose.

1. Read the following fable of Aesop, then write your own fable, telling a short
third-person story with a final teaching message (moral)

The Fox and The Crow

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a
branch of a tree.

"That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the
foot of the tree.

"Good day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how
glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass
that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you
that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."

The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she
opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped
up by Master Fox.

"That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will
give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not trust flatterers."
2. In this exercise someone says something to you that is the opposite of what
they said before. You have to answer I THOUGHT YOU SAID ...
Example: "That restaurant is expensive." "I thought you said it wasn't expensive."

a) "Ann is coming to the party." "I thought you said that she____________________.
b) "Bill passed his exam." "I thought you said ____________________.
c) "Ann likes Bill." "I thought ____________________.
d) "I've got many friends." "I thought you said you ____________________.
e) "Jack and Karen are going to be married." ____________________.
f) "Tom works very hard." ____________________.
g) "I want to be rich and famous." ____________________.
h) "I'll be here next week." ____________________.
i) "I can afford a vacation this year." ____________________.

3. Create a short song to teach the name of the fingers.