What are fables?

• Fables are an early form of story telling.
• It is believed that they originated in India.
• Fables are short stories which have been handed down from generation to generation.

• The fable is a universal kind of story.  Most cultures of the world (from the ancient Greeks, and probably before, to the present time) have had fables as part of their oral and written literature.
• Fables are amusing stories to read.  They make us smile, while at the same time, showing a human failing or weakness in the character of an animal.  
• Fables like "The Hare and the Tortoise" warn us to be careful not to boast too much, or you may get you "come-uppance," just like Hare.
  

Characteristics of Fables:

• All fables feature animals, or occasionally, objects, which speak and act like human beings. When animals or objects talk and act like people, this is called personification.
• All fables contain a moral. A moral is a lesson drawn froma story that teaches correct behavior or a universal truth.
• Fables usually feature animals that demonstrate very specific human characteristics.

 

Characteristics of Animals in Fables:

Animal	Characteristic
Fox	sly, smart, sneaky
Chickens and Donkeys	stupid
Wolves	ferocious, mean
Lions	courageous, noble, brave
Hawks	tyrannical
Fly	wise
Hens	conceited
Lamb	shy

Who wrote fables?

• Aesop, who was an ancient Greek, was the most famous writer of fables. Some of Aesop's most famous fables are "The Ant and the Grasshopper," "The Hare and the Tortoise," "The Goose with the Golden Eggs," "The Lion and the Mouse," and the "Fox and the Grapes."

• Aesop's fables are thousands of years old; however, fables have been written in cultures all around the world.  There are fables whose origins lie in Japanese, African, and Native American cultures, to name just a few.  
• "The Poor Ugly Hippo" is an African fable.  It was told by the San people, a tribe in Africa. 
• Ethiopians tell the fable of "The Jackal and the Leopard."
• From Asia, we get the fable "Why Pine is Green."
• The people of India tell the fable of "The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal."
• There are several examples of Native American fables.  "Doctor Coyote" is a Native American folktale.  The Cherokee tell the following fables - "How Rabbit Stole Otter's Coat," "Why Possum's Tale is Bare," and "How Terrapin Beat the Rabbit."
• Jon Scieszka has even written modern versions of fables.  His book - Squids Will Be Squids - a collection of fables.