Example of Anecdote

Mullah Nasruddin Feeds His Coat

By: Mullah Nasruddin

Mullah Nasruddin had been working in the fields all day long. He was tired and sweaty
and his clothes and shoes were covered with mud and stains. Because he had been fasting all day
long, for Ramadan, he was also quite hungry. But finally, it was almost sundown and Nasruddin
knew that he would soon be able to eat.
The wealthiest man in town had invited everyone to come to break their fasts in his home
that evening with a huge feast. Nasruddin knew that he would be late if he went home to change
his clothes before heading into town. He decided it was better to arrive in dirty clothes than to
be late. Oh, what a party it would be! What a feast! As he walked to the wealthy man's home,
Nasruddin imagined the delicious foods that he would soon be eating: dates, lentils and
chickpeas, olives and bread, hummus, falafel, chicken and beef — and best of all — the desserts
— halvah, date rolls, figs, and baklava!
When Nasruddin arrived, the wealthy man opened the door and looked Nasruddin up
and down scornfully, from his worn, ragged clothes down to his muddy shoes. Without a word of
welcome, he gestured for Nasruddin to enter and walked abruptly away.
(Leader — Say, "I wonder what the wealthy man was thinking or feeling," and briefly take
a few answers. Return to the story by saying, "Let's hear what happens next.")
Nasruddin joined the crowds of people, who were all dressed in their finest clothing. The
tables were laden with all sorts of delicious foods: dates, lentils and chickpeas, olives and bread,
hummus, falafel, chicken and beef — and best of all — the desserts — halvah, date rolls, figs, and
baklava!
Despite his efforts to hurry, the seats were all taken and nobody tried to move over or
make a space for Nasruddin. Nobody offered him food. He had to reach over and around people
to get any food for his plate. Nobody spoke to him. It was as if he wasn't even there.
(Leader — Pause and say, "I wonder how Nasruddin was feeling about this." Briefly take
a few answers.)
The other guests ignored him so completely that Nasruddin could not enjoy the food on
his plate, no matter how finely prepared and how tasty it was. In fact, after only a few bites,
Nasruddin was so uncomfortable that he decided to leave.
He hurried home and changed into his finest clothing, including a beautiful coat.
(Leader — Take off worn, ragged clothing and put on the coat or shawl.)
Nasruddin returned to the feast, and the host welcomed him with a huge smile. "Come
in, come in," greeted the host. As Nasruddin entered, people waved and called to him from all
corners of the room as they invited him to sit near them and offered him food.
(Leader — Ask, "I wonder what the host and the other guests were thinking now?" and
accept a few answers. Then ask, "I wonder what Nasruddin was feeling," for brief responses
before you continue.)
 Nasruddin sat down quietly. Picking up a plump fig, he carefully placed it into a coat
pocket, saying, "Eat, coat, eat." (Leader — If you have brought fake food, act this out.) Next, he
took a handful of nuts and put them into the pocket, saying, "Eat, coat, eat." Now he began to
feed his coat in earnest, grabbing all sorts of foods. (Leader — Pause here and invite the children
to try to name some foods Nasruddin might have fed to his coat. Use their suggestions:
"Nasruddin put ___ in his pocket, saying, 'Eat, coat, eat!')
He fed the coat lentils and chickpeas, olives and bread, hummus, falafel, chicken and
beef — and best of all — the desserts — halvah, date rolls, figs, and baklava!
Nasruddin became silent as they watched this strange behavior. Soon everyone in the
room was staring at Nasruddin, wondering what he was doing. The host hurried over.
"Nasruddin, whatever are you doing? Why are you feeding your coat in this manner?"
"Well," replied Nasruddin, "when I first came to this feast in my old farming clothes, I
was not welcome. No one would speak with me. But when I changed into this coat, suddenly I
was greeted warmly. So I realized it was not me that was welcome at this party, but my clothing.
And so I am feeding my coat."
(Leader — Use the sound instrument to signify that the story has ended. Briefly ask the
children how they think the host and the other guests might have been feeling when Nasruddin
told them why he was feeding his coat. After they have offered a few answers, ask them whether
they think it was fair or kind when the people wouldn’t talk to Nasruddin.)
Example of a Fable

The Fox and the Grapes

By: Aesop

A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along
the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth
watered as he gazed longingly at them.
The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he
jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at
it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.
Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.
"What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes
that are not worth gaping for."
And off he walked very, very scornfully.
There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach .
Example of a Parabole
The Blind Men and The Elephant
By: John Godfrey Saxe

Long ago six old men lived in a village in India. Each was born blind. The other villagers loved
the old men and kept them away from harm. Since the blind men could not see the world for
themselves, they had to imagine many of its wonders. They listened carefully to the stories told
by travelers to learn what they could about life outside the village.

The men were curious about many of the stories they heard, but they were most curious about
elephants. They were told that elephants could trample forests, carry huge burdens, and frighten
young and old with their loud trumpet calls. But they also knew that the Rajah's daughter rode
an elephant when she traveled in her father's kingdom. Would the Rajah let his daughter get
near such a dangerous creature?

The old men argued day and night about elephants. "An elephant must be a powerful giant,"
claimed the first blind man. He had heard stories about elephants being used to clear forests and
build roads.

"No, you must be wrong," argued the second blind man. "An elephant must be graceful and
gentle if a princess is to ride on its back."

"You're wrong! I have heard that an elephant can pierce a man's heart with its terrible horn,"
said the third blind man.

"Please," said the fourth blind man. "You are all mistaken. An elephant is nothing more than a
large sort of cow. You know how people exaggerate."

"I am sure that an elephant is something magical," said the fifth blind man. "That would explain
why the Rajah's daughter can travel safely throughout the kingdom."

"I don't believe elephants exist at all," declared the sixth blind man. "I think we are the victims
of a cruel joke."

Finally, the villagers grew tired of all the arguments, and they arranged for the curious men to
visit the palace of the Rajah to learn the truth about elephants. A young boy from their village
was selected to guide the blind men on their journey. The smallest man put his hand on the
boy's shoulder. The second blind man put his hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on until all
six men were ready to walk safely behind the boy who would lead them to the Rajah's
magnificent palace.

When the blind men reached the palace, they were greeted by an old friend from their village
who worked as a gardener on the palace grounds. Their friend led them to the courtyard. There
stood an elephant. The blind men stepped forward to touch the creature that was the subject of
so many arguments.

The first blind man reached out and touched the side of the huge animal. "An elephant is
smooth and solid like a wall!" he declared. "It must be very powerful."
The second blind man put his hand on the elephant's limber trunk. "An elephant is like a giant
snake," he announced.

The third blind man felt the elephant's pointed tusk. "I was right," he decided. "This creature is
as sharp and deadly as a spear."

The fourth blind man touched one of the elephant's four legs. "What we have here," he said, "is
an extremely large cow."

The fifth blind man felt the elephant's giant ear. "I believe an elephant is like a huge fan or
maybe a magic carpet that can fly over mountains and treetops," he said.

The sixth blind man gave a tug on the elephant's coarse tail. "Why, this is nothing more than a
piece of old rope. Dangerous, indeed," he scoffed.

The gardener led his friends to the shade of a tree. "Sit here and rest for the long journey home,"
he said. "I will bring you some water to drink."

While they waited, the six blind men talked about the elephant.

"An elephant is like a wall," said the first blind man. "Surely we can finally agree on that."

"A wall? An elephant is a giant snake!" answered the second blind man.

"It's a spear, I tell you," insisted the third blind man.

"I'm certain it's a giant cow," said the fourth blind man.

"Magic carpet. There's no doubt," said the fifth blind man.

"Don't you see?" pleaded the sixth blind man. "Someone used a rope to trick us."

Their argument continued and their shouts grew louder and louder.

"Wall!" "Snake!" "Spear!" "Cow!" "Carpet!" "Rope!"

"Stop shouting!" called a very angry voice.

It was the Rajah, awakened from his nap by the noisy argument.

"How can each of you be so certain you are right?" asked the ruler.

The six blind men considered the question. And then, knowing the Rajah to be a very wise man,
they decided to say nothing at all.

"The elephant is a very large animal," said the Rajah kindly. "Each man touched only one part.
Perhaps if you put the parts together, you will see the truth. Now, let me finish my nap in peace."
When their friend returned to the garden with the cool water, the six men rested quietly in the
shade, thinking about the Rajah's advice.

"He is right," said the first blind man. "To learn the truth, we must put all the parts together.
Let's discuss this on the journey home."

The first blind man put his hand on the shoulder of the young boy who would guide them home.
The second blind man put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on until all six men were ready
to travel together.