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Fables. What is a Fable?. Fable are short stories which teach a moral or lesson and feature animals. The animals are “anthropomorphized,” or given human qualities. They walk, talk, and act like humans. The word fable comes from the Latin “ fabula ” which means “story”
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What is a Fable? • Fable are short stories which teach a moral or lesson and feature animals.
The animals are “anthropomorphized,” or given human qualities. They walk, talk, and act like humans.
The word fable comes from the Latin “fabula” which means “story” • “Fari” (to speak) + –ula (little) = little story
Aesop • The most well-know “fabulist” is Aesop. He was born in Greece during the sixth century BC. Born a slave, Aesop had two different masters before being granted his freedom
The slave masters were named, Xanthus and Iadmon, the latter gave him his freedom as a reward for his wit and intelligence. As a freedman he supposedly became involved in public affairs and traveled a lot—telling his fables along the way. King Croesus of Lydia was so impressed with Aesop that he offered him residency and a job at his court.
“While on a mission for King Croesus to distribute a certain amount of gold to the people of Delphi in Greece, there was a misunderstanding about how much gold each person was supposed to receive. Aesop became discouraged because the Delphians did not seem appreciative enough of the gift from the King so Aesop decided to take it all back to King Croesus. On his journey back the people of Delphi, who thought he was actively cheating them and giving them a bad reputation, tracked him down and laying a trap for him. ‘By stealth they [stashed] a golden bowl from [their] temple in his baggage; then as he starts off through Phocis, they overtake him, search his baggage, and find the bowl. Haled back to Delhi, Aesop is found guilty of sacrilege against Apollo for the theft of the bowl and is condemned to death by being hurled off a cliff.’ ”
What to find in Fables. • Main Characters • Conflict • Solution to Conflict • Lesson or Moral
The Ant and the Grasshopper In a field one summer's day, a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. "Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?” "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same.” "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing, every day, corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew...
The Moral of the Story It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.