FABLES &

EPICS
Prepared by: Glenzale Celino
 FABLES
What is it?
• a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
- Oxford Dictionary

• In literature, a fable (pronounced fey-buh l) is a short fictional story that has a

moral or teaches a lesson. Fables use humanized animals, objects, or parts of
nature as main characters, and are therefore considered to be a sub-genre of
fantasy.
• The word fable comes  from the Latin fābula meaning discourse or story.
- https://literaryterms.net/fable/
• Usually, fables are aimed at children with their use of fantasy and whimsical
human-like characters. As far as child audiences are concerned, fables can teach
through examples in which good actions are rewarded and evil actions are
punished to the highest degree.
What is a Fable in Literature? Definition, Examples of Literary ...
• http://www.woodheadpublishing.com › literary-devices
 FABLES
Facts/Trivia
• Written by a former Greek slave, in the late to mid-6th century BCE,
Aesop's Fables are the world's best known collection of morality tales. The
fables, numbering 725, were originally told from person-to-person as much
for entertainment purposes but largely as a means for relaying or teaching a
moral or lesson. -
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/664/aesops-fables/#:~:text=Written%20by%20a%20former%20Greek,teaching%20a%20moral%20or
%20lesson
.

• Aesop – is the father of Fables

• A group of stories thought to have been written by Aesop, a Greek storyteller. The
main characters in these stories are animals, and each story demonstrates a moral
lesson.
4 most famous fables according to World History.
• The fox and the grapes. 
• The lion and the mouse
• The tortoise and the hare
• The fox and the crow.
 TRIVIA QUIZ
- https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Literature/Aesops-Fables-87629.html

1. Which story does this moral come from? "Enemies'

promises are made to be broken".
 
• The Nurse and the Wolf
•  The Wolf and the Crane
•  The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
•  The Wolf and the Goat

Answer: The Nurse and the Wolf

 TRIVIA QUIZ
- https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Literature/Aesops-Fables-87629.html

2. Which story does this moral come from? "Honesty

is the best policy".
 Mercury and the Woodman
•  The Lioness
•  The Man and the Satyr
•  The Hare and the Tortoise

• Answer: The Hare and the Tortoise

 TRIVIA QUIZ
- https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Literature/Aesops-Fables-87629.html

3. Which story does this moral come from? "You can't

please everybody“
•
 The Monkey and the Camel
•  The Miser
•  The Monkey and the Dolphin
•  The Father and his Two Daughters

Answer: The Father and His Two Daughters

 TRIVIA QUIZ
- https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Literature/Aesops-Fables-87629.html

4.
Which does this moral come from? "Avoid too-
powerful neighbors“.
 The Two Crabs
 The Two Pots
 The Two Frogs
 The Vain Crow

Answer: The Two Pots

 TRIVIA QUIZ
- https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Literature/Aesops-Fables-87629.html

• 5.  Which story does this moral come from? "Do not

count your chickens before they are hatched".
 The Ass and His Driver
•  Androcles and the Lion
•  The Milkmaid and Her Pail
•  The Ass Carrying Salt

• Answer: The Milkmaid and Her Pail

CHARACTERISTICS
• A fable is intended to provide a moral story.
• Fables often use animals as the main characters.
They are presented with anthropomorphic (human form of
an object) characteristics, such as the ability to speak and

to reason.
• Fables personify the animal characters.
• They are meant to entertain
• They are poetic, with double or allegorical
(symbolic/figurative) significance
- https://literarydevices.net/fable/
- https://www.siue.edu/~dkoehne/ppchapter6/tsld014.htm
4 Central Characteristics of a Fable
• Fables are defined by four central essential elements.
• Symbolism. Characters in fables are stand-ins for humans, and
their misadventures are meant to symbolize human behavior.
• 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.
• Lessons. Every fable has a moral lesson at the end that arises from
the story. For example: “Slow and steady wins the race.”
• Humor. Fables often have a humorous tone when showing the
foolishness of human nature.
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-a-fable-learn-about-the-4-central-characteristics-of-a-fable-and-4-
famous-fable-examples#4-central-characteristics-of-a-fable
 Elements and Morals/Lessons
• Falling Action (Events resulting
from the conflict) The
overconfident Hare took a nap
and missed the determined
Tortoise passing him by and then
winning.
• Conflict (Struggle in the Story) ...
• Moral, or lesson, of the story. ...
• Rising Action (What leads to the
conflict)
• Characters and Setting.
- https://prezi.com/sh3qbvdfzqr1/elements-of-a-fable/
• The Tortoise and the Hare: Never Give Up!
• The Ants and the Grasshopper: Work Hard and Play
Hard! (A time for work and play)
• The Dog and the Shadow: Be happy With What You
Have.
• The Crow and the Pitcher: There’s always a way!
• The Bell and the Cat: Ideas Are Good, But Execution
Is Better!
• The Two Crabs: Lead by Example!
• he Gnat and the Bull: You’re Probably Not That
Important.
• The Hart and the Hunter: Don’t Underestimate
Yourself!
• The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox: Learn from the
Failures of Others.
• The North Wind and the Sun: kindness Wins People
Over!
• The Lion and the Mouse: No act of kindness is Ever
Wasted.
• The Wolf and The Crane: Don’t’ Always Expect A
Reward.
Examples
• The Tortoise and the Hare
• The tortoise and the hare have a race because the hare is bragging
about how fast he is. Along the way, the hare is far enough ahead to
take a nap, and the tortoise passes him, winning the race. Moral:
Slow and steady wins the race.
• The Ant and The Grasshopper
• In the summer, the ant is busy working, storing food for the winter.
The grasshopper does not work-only plays. He makes fun of the ant.
When winter comes, the ant is prepared and the grasshopper is not.
Moral: Be prepared for a "rainy" day.
• The Fox and The Crow
• The crow had a piece of cheese, and the fox wanted it. The fox began
to give the crow compliments about her singing, asking her to sing.
The crow was flattered and began to sing. The cheese fell and the fox
took it. Moral: Don't believe a flatterer/Don't be a showoff.
• The Goose and the Golden Egg
• A farmer had a goose that laid golden eggs, so he sold them and
became rich. But, the goose only laid one egg a day, and the farmer
wanted more eggs. So, he killed the goose to get the eggs (which
means that the goose laid no more eggs). Moral: Greediness is not
good.
• King Midas and the Golden Touch
• King Midas wanted everything he touched to turn to gold. So, his
wish was granted. Everything was great, until Midas touched his
daughter, and she turned to gold. Moral: Be careful what you wish
for.
Examples
PHILIPPINES
- https://www.juantamad.com/philippine-fables/
• The Monkey Who Wanted To Swim
• Getting All The Fruits
• The Carabao Got Tired
• Two Hungry Cats
• The Dirty Cat
• The Cat and the Horse
• The Beautiful Butterfly
• The Lazy Dog
• The Intelligent Frog
• Two Cocks at Quarrel
• A wrong Move
• Planting the seed
• The Kind Deer
• Juan Tamad And The Crab
EPICS
 What is Epic?
• a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral
tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or
legendary figures or the history of a nation.

An epic is a long narrative poem that is elevated and dignified

in theme, tone, and style. As a literary device, an epic
celebrates heroic deeds and historically (or even cosmically)
important events. An epic usually focuses on the adventures
 of a hero who has qualities that are superhuman or divine,
and on whose very fate often depends the destiny of a tribe,
nation, or sometimes the whole of the human race. The Iliad,
the Odyssey, and the Aeneid are considered the most
important epics in western world literature, although this
literary device has been utilized across regions and cultures.
Epic comes from the ancient Greek term epos, meaning story,
word, poem. The English word epic comes from the Latin
 epicus.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered by many scholars to be
the oldest surviving example of a work of literature. This epic,
traced back to ancient Mesopotamia in approximately 2100
BC, relays the story of Gilgamesh, an ancient king descended
from the gods. Gilgamesh undergoes a journey to discover the
secret of immortality.
CHARACTERISTICS
Though the epic is not a frequently used literary device
today, its lasting influence on poetry is unmistakable.
Traditionally, epic poetry shares certain characteristics
that identify it as both a literary device and poetic form.
Here are some typical characteristics of an epic:

• written in formal, elevated, dignified style

• third-person narration with omniscient narrator
• begins with invocation to a muse who provides
inspiration and guides the poet
includes a journey that crosses a variety of large settings
and terrains
• takes place across lengthy time spans and/or in an era
beyond the range of living memory
• features a central hero who is incredibly brave and
resolute
• includes obstacles and/or circumstances that are
supernatural or otherworldly so as to create almost
impossible odds against the hero
• reflects concern as to the future of a civilization or
culture
 CHARACTERISTICS

• 1. The Hero is the great leader who is identified strongly

with a particular people or society
• 2. The setting is broad and often includes supernatural
realms
• 3. The Hero does great deeds in battle or undertakes an
extraordinary quest or journey
• 4. Sometimes gods or other supernatural or fantastic beings
takes part in action.
• 5. The Story is told in heightened language.
Famous Examples of Literary Epics

Epic poems can be traced back to some of the earliest

civilizations in human history, in Europe and Asia, and are
therefore some of the earliest works of literature as well.
Literary epics reflect heroic deeds and events that reveal
significance to the culture of the poet. In addition, epic
poetry allowed ancient writers to relay stories of great
adventures and heroic actions. The effect of epics was to
commemorate the struggles and adventures of the hero to
elevate their status and inspire the audience.
• The Iliad and The Odyssey: epic poems attributed to Homer between 850 and

ss
650 BC. These poems describe the events of the Trojan War and King Odysseus’s
return journey from Troy, and were initially conveyed in the oral tradition.
• The Mahābhārata: epic poem from ancient India composed in Sanskrit.
• The Aeneid: epic poem composed in Latin by Virgil, a Roman poet, between 29
and 19 BC. This is a narrative poem that relates the story of Aeneas, a Trojan
descendent and forebear to the Romans.
• Beowulf: epic poem written in Old English between 975 and 1025 AD. It is not
attributed to an author, but is known for the conflict between Beowulf, a
Scandinavian hero, and the monster Grendel.
• The Nibelungenlied: epic narrative poem written in Middle High German, c.
1200 AD. Its subject is Siegfried, a legendary hero in German mythology.
• The Divine Comedy: epic poem by Dante Alighieri and completed in 1320. Its
subject is a detailed account of Dante as a character traveling through Hell,
Purgatory, and Heaven.
• The Faerie Queene: epic poem by Edmund Spenser published in 1590 and given
to Elizabeth I. This poem features an invocation of the muse and is the work in
which Spenser invented the verse form later known as the Spenserian stanza.
• Paradise Lost: written by John Milton in blank verse form and published in 1667.
Its subject is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden as well as
the fallen angel Satan.
• Agyu : The Ilianon Epic of Mindanao (of the Manobos of North Cotabato)
• Hudhud hi Aliguyon (An Ifugao Harvest Song)
• Kudaman (of Palawan)
• Lumalindaw (Ga’dang Epic)
• The Epic of Labaw Donggon (of the Sulod people of Central Panay)
• The Epic of Nalandangan: Matabagka
Searches for the Deity of the Wind (of the Talaandig people of Central
Bukidnon)
• The Guman of Dumalinao (of the Suban
-on tribe of Northwestern Mindanao)
• The Ibalon (from the Bikol region)
• The Kingdom of Keboklagan (of the Suban
-on tribe of Northwestern Mindanao)
• The Life of Lam-ang (An Ilokano Epic)
• The Maiden of the Buhong Sky (an epic of Manuvu hero, "Tuwaang")
• Tulalang Slays the Dragon (of the Ilianen Manobo of North Central
Cotabato)
• Tuwaang Attends a Wedding (the second song of the Manuvu Ethnoepic
Tuwaang cycle)
• Ulahingan: The Visit of Lagaba’an to Nelendangan (of the Manobos
of North Cotabato)
 2 TYPES OF EPICS
1. FOLK EPIC- oral composition pass on
storyteller to storyteller and has changed
overtime.
Example: Gilgamesh, Beowulf, the Iliad and
the Odyssey

2. LITERARY EPIC – written compositions

that are unchanged overtime.

Example: Aenid and Paradise Lost

 Importance of Epic in Human Life
• Epics Furnish us with Knowledge and Wisdom
• Epics are Chronicles of our History and Past Culture
• Epics Justify the Ubiquitous Traditions
• Epics tell the Story about the Religion
• Epics Fill us with Motivation
• Epics Highlight the Duties of a Human Being towards its
Nation
• Epics help Discover Technology
• Epics can become a Source of Entertainment
7 Traits of an Epic Hero
• These 7 principal characteristics can describe epic heroes. They are:
• Noble Birth
• Most of the epic heroes that we know about were born to a noble family.
They usually fall under the category of kings, princes, nobles or another
position of high rank. Commoners are not usually found in their lineage.
• Superhuman Capabilities
• Mose epic heroes have the capability to complete deeds of incredible
strength and courage. This means they have the potential
for extraordinary deeds considered impossible for most humans. These
acts are beyond what the average commoner could do in their life.
However, this does not mean that they are necessarily “superheroes”; not
all epic heroes are good heroes.
• Vast Traveler
• Epic heroes are known for traveling to exotic locations, either by choice or
by chance, and usually do so to fight against evil.
• Unmatched Warrior
• Epic heroes usually established themselves as a capable fighter in a war. They also usually have a
reputation for being a warrior, even before the start of the story.
• Cultural Legend
• A hero is usually first recognized in his own home country as a hero, which leads to them becoming known
in other lands. Soon they will reach the status of legend where many different countries celebrate them.
• Humility
• Although recognized for their great deeds as heroes,  they should never brag about it or even be willing
to accept applause. For example, Oedipus’ intelligence in answering the Sphinx’s riddle earned him the
throne of Thebes, yet he didn’t brag about it to Thebes’ people.
• Battles superhuman foes
• Most epic heroes receive aid from a god or goddess when they are on a quest or are battling against some
superhuman forces. This is the part that makes their action epic because they are in a battle that mere
mortals cannot fight.
• Examples would be Beowulf against Grendel and Odysseus against Cyclops. One interesting fact is that for
each of the heroes, their enemies are unique. It is unheard of that a hero would fight the same enemy
that another hero has already fought.
 REFERENCES
• https://www.google.com/search?q=waht+is+epic%3F&oq=waht+is+epic%3F&aqs=chrome..
69i57j0i10i131i433j0i10i433j0i10l7.2852j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
• https://literarydevices.net/epic/
• https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/english-version-of-epics-mga-epiko-philippine-epics_1178.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetry
• https://www.slideshare.net/kristinvoolstra/epic-hero-powerpoint
• https://targetstudy.com/articles/importance-of-epics-in-human-life.html
• https://www.ancient-literature.com/characteristics-of-epic-heroes/#:~:text=But%20what%20can%20we%20say,and%20finall
y%2C%20battle%20superhuman%20foes
.