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The Encyclopædia Britannica defines a fable as a „narrative form, usually featuring animals that behave and speak as human beings, told in order to highlight human follies and weaknesses. A moral—or lesson for behavior—is woven into the story and often explicitly formulated at the end.“ (“fable“)
The history of Fable:
In the Western tradition, the most prominent writer and/or collector of fables is Aesop, a possibly legendary figure credited for a collection of ancient Greek fables, with modern collections containing up to 200 different fables. However, the existence of Aesop or his authorship of the fables is debatable. (“fable“)
Among the Classical authors who developed the Aesopian model were the Roman poet Horace, the Greek biographer Plutarch, and the Greek satirist Lucian. (“fable“)
Examples of fable:
The Tortoise and the Hare - perhaps the most famous fable about the importance of persistance
The Fox and the Grapes - a fable highlighting the importance of being honest with oneself and needing to own up to the fact that we cannot have everything we want, the term "sour grapes" originates from this fable
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - a fable preaching about karma
These are the shortened versions of the fables mentioned above:
The Hare & the Tortoise
The Hare & the Tortoise
A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.
"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.
"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think. I'll run you a race and prove it."
The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.
The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.
The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time
The race is not always to the swift.
("The Hare & the Tortoise")
The Fox & the Grapes
The Fox & the Grapes
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.
("The Fox & the Grapes")
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
A certain Wolf could not get enough to eat because of the watchfulness of the Shepherds. But one night he found a sheep skin that had been cast aside and forgotten. The next day, dressed in the skin, the Wolf strolled into the pasture with the Sheep. Soon a little Lamb was following him about and was quickly led away to slaughter.
That evening the Wolf entered the fold with the flock. But it happened that the Shepherd took a fancy for mutton broth that very evening, and, picking up a knife, went to the fold. There the first he laid hands on and killed was the Wolf.
The evil doer often comes to harm through his own deceit.
("The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing")
Sources:
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2023, 12 Jun). fable. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/fable. Accessed 22 October 2023.
The Aesop for Children, (n.d.). The Hare & the Tortoise. https://read.gov/aesop/025.html. Accessed 22 October 2023.
The Aesop for Children, (n.d.). The Fox & the Grapes. https://read.gov/aesop/005.html. Accessed 22 October 2023.
The Aesop for Children, (n.d.). The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. https://read.gov/aesop/022.html. Accessed 22 October 2023.
Author of the page: Petra Petlachová
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