Chapter IV

Fables
 Chapter IV
Fables

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is purposely made to give students a bird’s eye view on how fable
came about. Like folklore and folk tales, fables were also handed down from
generations to generations. Not only that, one of the elements of fable which is its
authenticity in producing lessons in the story will be taught and analyzed by them
through embracing and appreciating Aesop’s works.

Aesop is the greatest fabulist of all time and many adored and idolized his works
but no one had beaten him yet, especially heart warming lessons in life.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:

a. recall the history of fable;

b. distinguish different fables from other places; and
c. reflect on the importance of fable.

LEARNING CONTENT

Introduction

The word fable is derived from the Latin word fibula, which means “ a story”
and a derivative of the word fari, which means “to speak”. Fable is a literary device
that can be defined as a concise and brief story intended to provide lesson at the
end.
 In literature, it is described as a didactic lesson given through some sort of
animal story. In prose and verse, a fable is described through plants, animals, forces
of nature, and inanimate objects by giving them human attributes wherein they
demonstrate a lesson at the end.

Fables are characterized by their lessons. These short tales were once passed
down as folklore to teach listeners the difference between right and wrong, give
advice on proper behavior and manners, and offer maxims to live by.

A. Characteristics of Fables

Fables are defined by four essential elements:

1. Symbolism - Characters in fables are stand-ins for humans, and their

misadventures are meant to symbolize human behavior.

2. Anthropomorphization - In fables, animals and even inanimate objects

(like the wind or the sun) are the main characters of the story and are given
human qualities. Some animals have specific traits associated with them. For
example, an owl is wise, a fox is cunning, and a lion is brave.

3. Lessons - Every fable has a lesson at the end that arises from the story. For
example, “Slow and steady wins the race.”

4. Humor - Fables often have a humorous tone when showing the foolishness
of human nature.

Here are some other characteristics of fable:

1. A fable is intended to provide a moral story.

 2. A fable often uses animals as the main characters. It is presented with
anthropomorphic characteristics such as the ability to speak and to reason out.

3. A fable personifies the animals’ characters.

4. A fable is short and has few characters.

5. A fable has characters wherein they have strengths and weaknesses.

6. A fable is just one story.

7. A fable’s setting can be anywhere.

B. Different Kinds/Origins of Fables

Where did fables originate?

Most Western fables come from the famous fabulist Aesop, who wrote in
ancient Greece. In ancient Greek education, students were taught fables and
encouraged to make up and recite their own. Some of Aesop’s fables originate from
India during the first millennium BCE.

Fables have a long, European history. In the 17 th century, French fabulist

Jean de la Fontaine was inspired by Aesop to write fables that satirized the
church, the court, and the ruling class of the time. De la Fontaine considered the
moral to be the core element of the fable. Many European writers were inspired by
De la Fontaine, including the Russian fabulist Ivan Krylov. Traditionally, fables are
written to teach children their culture’s appropriate behavior and values, but there
are some exceptions.

C. Values of Fables

Fables are timeless literary devices because of their ability to deliver moral
message in a simple way that can be understood and enjoyed by readers of all ages.
In fact, the fable is one of the oldest and most lasting methods of both written and
oral storytelling. They can be found in the literature of almost all countries and
languages, and are fundamental part of the folklore of most cultures. Lessons that
would normally be difficult for children or even adults to understand are easily
communicated through the fictional examples that fables provide which makes them
an extremely valuable way to teaching through storytelling.

The purpose of writing fables is to convey a moral and message. Fables also
give readers a chance to laugh at the follies of human beings, and they can be
employed for the objective of satire and criticism. They are very helpful in teaching
children good lessons based on examples. However, in literature, fables are used for
didactic purposes at a much broader level.

D. Samples of Fables

Aesop’s Fables

Aesop is quite possibly the most famous fable writer of all time. People
believed he was a slave in Greece and wrote much of his work around 500 BC. Many
of the morals in his fables revolve around quality, justice, and virtuous behavior.
Without question, Aesop created a treasure trove of fables for children to read and
draw lessons from.
Here are samples of fables:

1. The Ant and the Grasshopper

In this fable, the ant saves food for the winter and the grasshopper does
not. When winter comes, the hungry grasshopper begs for food, but the ant
refuses to share. The moral is, “Prepare for the days of necessity."

2. The Beekeeper and the Bees

While the beekeeper is away, a thief enters his apiary and steals all the
honey. When the bees return, they assume the beekeeper took all their honey
and start to sting him. He calls them ungrateful because they let someone steal
the honey and then attack the person who looks after them. The moral is,
“Make sure you are seeking revenge on the right person.”

3. The Country Mouse and the City Mouse

The city mouse takes the country mouse to the city to sample the fine food
there. During the meal, two dogs scare the mice and the country mouse returns
home, where he is safe. The moral is, “Better beans and bacon in peace
than cakes and ale in fear.”

4. The Golden Touch

King Midas loves gold so much, he asks a fairy to grant his wish that
everything he touches turns to gold. He is very happy until he touches his
daughter and she turns to gold. The moral is, “Be careful what you wish
for.”
5. The Goose with the Golden Eggs

A man discovers his goose lays golden eggs. He gets rich selling the golden
eggs his goose lays every morning. Soon, he wants all the eggs for himself,
killing the goose to get them. The moral is, “Greed often overreaches itself.”

6. The Man and the Wood

A man takes an axe head into the woods and asks the trees to give him one
branch. When they do, he proceeds to fit his axe head onto the branch he was
given. With his fully-formed axe, the man chops down all the trees. The moral is,
“Do not give your enemy the means of destroying you.”

7. The Old Lion and the Fox

An old lion pretends to be sick only to capture animals that show him
sympathy. He puts them in his sack to eat later. A fox notices that the tracks
lead into his den and not away, so he tricks the lion into closing his eyes and
rescues the animals. The moral is, “Using your head keeps you from
making foolish or disastrous mistakes.”

8. The Sun and the Wind

The sun and the wind argue over who is stronger. They decide whoever can
make a traveller take off his cloak would be stronger. The sun goes behind a
cloud, but the wind only makes the traveller clutch his cloak more. Then, the sun
comes out from behind the clouds, and the traveller gets hot and takes off his
cloak. The moral is, “Kindness affects more than severity.”
 9. The Two Goats

Two goats cross a bridge from opposite ends. They meet in the middle and
neither is willing to budge. So, they fall into the river and die. The moral is,
“Being unwilling to compromise can lead to a dead end.”

References

‘Two Greek Myths’ in Teen Time Remix: Using Authentic Materials for Developing
Secondary Students’ Listening Skills, English Language Education, Section, CDI, EDB,
HKSAR, 2008.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/mythss.htm
An introduction to different myths and cultures around the world

http://myths.e2bn.org/mythsandlegends
A large collection of myths and legends from other parts of the world