Fable, Parable, Allegory…
Using the art of storytelling to teach a moral lesson is as old as recorded history. In fact, there is a good possibility that storytelling itself was devised as an instrument for teaching moral lessons. Clearly, it is easier for unwritten history to be remembered and passed down to younger generations if it takes on story form.
Three literary modes have traditionally served the purpose of teaching a lesson – fable, parable, allegory. A fable is defined by its brevity (the ancient fables of Aesop and the modern fables of James Thurber generally are told in fewer than 300 words) and its prophetic nature, meaning it gives a rule or moral that shows certain behaviors leading to certain consequences. A parable is a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson, often enigmatic or dark in nature. And an allegory uses characters or events to represent ideas or principles in a story.
Your job is to create your own original fable or parable. Think about a moral/belief you would like to express, and then create animals/characters and a plot to clearly illustrate and express it. Your piece will be graded on…
- a clear lesson or moral
- a mix of showing/telling to illustrate your moral/belief
- format / grammar and mechanics / thoughtful reflection
- creativity/imagination (WOW factor)
Fable, Parable, Allegory…
Using the art of storytelling to teach a moral lesson is as old as recorded history. In fact, there is a good possibility that storytelling itself was devised as an instrument for teaching moral lessons. Clearly, it is easier for unwritten history to be remembered and passed down to younger generations if it takes on story form.
Three literary modes have traditionally served the purpose of teaching a lesson – fable, parable, allegory. A fable is defined by its brevity (the ancient fables of Aesop and the modern fables of James Thurber generally are told in fewer than 300 words) and its prophetic nature, meaning it gives a rule or moral that shows certain behaviors leading to certain consequences. A parable is a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson, often enigmatic or dark in nature. And an allegory uses characters or events to represent ideas or principles in a story.
Your job is to create your own original fable or parable. Think about a moral/belief you would like to express, and then create animals/characters and a plot to clearly illustrate and express it. Your piece will be graded on…
- a clear lesson or moral
- a mix of showing/telling to illustrate your moral/belief
- format / grammar and mechanics / thoughtful reflection
- creativity/imagination (WOW factor)