Fables

[Syrenna]

In its strict sense a fable is a short story or folk tale featuring animals, plants or forces of nature that are given human qualities. A fable's purpose is to impart a moral lesson, which may be expressed explicitly at the end as a maxim. A fable may be set in verse, though it is usually prose. In its pejorative sense, a fable is a deliberately invented or falsified account.

A fable often, but not necessarily, makes metaphorical use of an animal as its central character. But the device of personification may be extended to anything inanimate, such as trees, flowers, stones, streams and winds.

Whether handed down from generation to generation as oral literature or constructed by a literary tale-teller, the purpose of a fable is to teach a particular lesson, value or to give sage advice. They also provide us with the opportunity to laugh at our foolishness and cry and comfort each other when faced with tragedy. They differ from parables and allegories which usually feature humans. They also differ from myths and legends which explain a particular natural phenomena such as seasons or why the sun rises in the east.

Fables are characterized by a lesson, the type of characters, its length which is generally short and the type of writing, which is mainly action and dialogue as opposed to description. But most importantly, the fable is universal. For that reason, it’s important to teach fables. Not only do fables allow us to connect with other cultures but ultimately they reinforce what makes us human.

Finally, the fable also serves as a springboard to other forms of writing. The lesson becomes the theme in a short story or novel; how the lesson is taught becomes the plot in longer stories. Characters can be developed to create voice, dialogue and point of view.

[Syrenna]

Fables have been told for a long time. One of the earliest notable fabulists was Aesop, a slave who lived in ancient Greece during the 6th century BC. Although no solid evidence exists proving Aesop was a real person, or where he was born, some consider him as the father of the genre. Hundreds of fables have been attributed to him, though many have been told by others, at an earlier or later time.

Notable 'Fabulists'

• Aesop
  
  
• Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa
  
  
• Vaisampayana
  
  
• Valmiki
  
  
• Bidpai
  
  
• Vishnu Sarma
  
  
• Phaedrus
  
  
• Syntipas
  
  
• Hyginus, author of Fabulae.
  
  
• Berechiah ha-Nakdan (Berechiah the Punctuator, 1200s).
  
  
• Marie de France
  
  
• Biernat of Lublin (Polish, 1465? – after 1529).
  
  
• Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695)
  
  
• Ignacy Krasicki (Polish, 1735 – 1801).
  
  
• Ivan Krylov (1769-1844)
  
  
• Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
  
  
• James Thurber
  
  
• George Orwell
  
  
• Stoian Mihailovski (Bulgarian)

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Fables is perhaps one of my favorite sections, something I read even when I was young. I mean who can forget the sour grapes tale, or the wolf and the lamb. Good work Sy.

[Syrenna]

The sour grapes tale? Is that the one where the fox leaps for the hanging grapes but can't quite reach them, he tries and tries but eventually gives up, stating that he doesn't want them anyway because they're probably sour?

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

syrenna said:

The sour grapes tale? Is that the one where the fox leaps for the hanging grapes but can't quite reach them, he tries and tries but eventually gives up, stating that he doesn't want them anyway because they're probably sour?

That would be the one, he was one bitter fox...

[Syrenna]

He should have improvised and made himself some stilts

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

syrenna said:

He should have improvised and made himself some stilts

But you know what? They probably were sour.

[Syrenna]

Ha, but how much more annoyed would he have been if he'd really exerted himself by improvising, making the stilts, reaching the grapes and then finding that they were sour? He got off lightly, in my opinion

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

syrenna said:

Ha, but how much more annoyed would he have been if he'd really exerted himself by improvising, making the stilts, reaching the grapes and then finding that they were sour? He got off lightly, in my opinion

Yes, he was a very smart fox. He probably knew they were sour once he got close enough. Aesop fable people are just haters.

[Syrenna]

Amen to that

So, is this where the saying 'sly like a fox' derives from? A bunch of grapes and a lazy fox? Because he already knew they were sour, right? Sly old dog.

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

Because the Aesop Fable people would have said something like "Think smart, not hard" if the Fox tricked another Creature into getting them for him.

[Syrenna]

Aesop was just one man, he didn't have 'people'

[The Big Daddy C-Master]

syrenna said:

Aesop was just one man, he didn't have 'people'

And he was black.

[Syrenna]

Hmm, I'm not entirely sure. Allow me to Google that and get back to you #poke4pu#