Fables

children's literature

1. FABLES Prepared by: Ms. Bluebel G. Abongan Ms. Vanessa D. Flores

2. What is a fable? A fable is a short tale in which the chief characters are animals and sometimes inanimate objects that act and talk like human beings. The wisdom of the foolish acts of human beings are shown by the actions and words of the beasts. The fable must always point a moral. Often the theme or moral appears at the end of the story.

3. S ources of Fables

4. Aesop Most of the fables have been attributed to Aesop, who was said to have been a Greek slave. He was ugly, but cunning and clever. His skill in making fables gained him his freedom from slavery and he even won a high position in government .

5. A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.      "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree.      "Good day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."      The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox.      "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not trust flatterers." The Fox and The Crow

6. The town mouse and country mouse A Town Mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country. For lunch the Country Mouse served wheat stalks, roots, and acorns, with a dash of cold water for drink. The Town Mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simple food only to be polite. After the meal the friends had a long talk, or rather the Town Mouse talked about her life in the city while the Country Mouse listened. They then went to bed in a cozy nest in the hedgerow and slept in quiet and comfort until morning. In her sleep the Country Mouse dreamed she was a Town Mouse with all the luxuries and delights of city life that her friend had described for her. So the next day when the Town Mouse asked the Country Mouse to go home with her to the city, she gladly said yes.

7. When they reached the mansion in which the Town Mouse lived, they found on the table in the dining room the leavings of a very fine banquet. There were sweetmeats and jellies, pastries, delicious cheeses, indeed, the most tempting foods that a Mouse can imagine. But just as the Country Mouse was about to nibble a dainty bit of pastry, she heard a Cat mew loudly and scratch at the door. In great fear the Mice scurried to a hiding place, where they lay quite still for a long time, hardly daring to breathe. When at last they ventured back to the feast, the door opened suddenly and in came the servants to clear the table, followed by the House Dog. The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse's den only long enough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella. " You may have luxuries and dainties that I have not," she said as she hurried away, "but I prefer my plain food and simple life in the country with the peace and security that go with it."

8. Moral: Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.

9. Panchatantra The Panchatantra meaning “Five Books” was composed about 200 B.C. It is the oldest known collection of Indian fables. It is the source of many of the Aesop and La Fontaigne fables. Kalibab and Dimad

10. Four Friends And A Hunter                                                                                     A deer, a turtle, a crow and a rat were friends. They lived happily in a jungle. One day, the deer was caught in a hunter’s trap and the friends made a plan to save him. The deer struggled as if it was in pain and then it lie motionless, with eyes wide open, as if it were dead. The crow and the other birds then sat on the deer and started poking it as they do to a dead animal. Right then, the turtle crossed the hunter’s path to distract him. The hunter left the deer, assuming it dead, and went after the turtle. Meanwhile, the rat chew open the net to free the deer while the crow picked up the turtle and quickly took it away from the hunter.

11. Moral: Teamwork can achieve great results.

12. The Lion And The Camel In a dense jungle, a lion lived with its three assistants – a jackal, a crow and a leopard. Due to their proximity to the king of the jungle, the assistants never had to look for food. One day, they were surprised to see a camel, which usually lived in the desert, wandering in the forest. On inquiry, they learnt that the camel lost its way. The lion gave it shelter and protected it. One day, the mighty lion was injured in a battle with the elephants. Unable to hunt, the lion and the assistants were left hungry. The three assistants suggested that they should eat the camel, but the lion refused to kill it. The assistants hatched a plan to make the camel offer itself as food to its protector. The crow, the leopard and the jackal each offered itself as food to the lion, which it refused. Seeing this, the camel also did the same and was instantly killed by the lion.

13. Moral:  It is unwise to trust cunning people who surround powerful or wealthy ones for their own benefit.

14. Jatakas Another ancient collection of Indian fables is the Jatakas . When they originated is not definitely known. Jataka is a Buddhist name for stories concerning the rebirth of Gautama Buddha who according to tradition was reincarnated many times in the forms of many different animals .

15. The lion and the crane In the kingdom of Benares, brave King Devadatta was just and kind. He ruled wisely and all lived happily in prosperity. Beyond the kingdom walls, was a dark jungle; many animals lived within its shadowy limits. Monkeys leapt from branch to branch, screeching to each other. Colourful parrots squawked their cheerful greetings. Timid deer trod warily through the dappled shade, and snakes and other slithering creatures slid through the layer of moist leaves, which formed a soft carpet underfoot. The King of all these beasts was a ferocious and cruel Lion. This fierce Lion spent his days hunting and feasting. He would pad softly through the green undergrowth hunting his prey, brushing the straight stalks of grass aside with his powerful shoulders. His golden shaggy mane framed his face. When he opened his mouth, two rows of razor-sharp teeth gleamed in the sunlight. When he roared, the whole jungle shook. Monkeys fell from the trees, the birds flew this way and that, the deer pricked up their ears and fled in panic, and all the other jungle creatures ran for their lives. One day, the Lion was eating greedily, when a bone stuck in his throat. He swallowed hard and shook his head, but the bone was stuck fast. He roared in pain and anger, and every creature in the jungle ran, flew, swam or slithered away as fast as they could. The Lion could not eat, he could not sleep, and the bone made his throat swell, so that it was even hard for him to breath. Was this the end of that fierce and cruel Lion ?

16. A day or so after the Lion’s troubles began, a beautiful white Crane was flying over the jungle. He heard the Lion roaring piteously and flew down to see what all the fuss was about. He saw the Lion pacing back and forth, shaking his head, and roaring. Unafraid, the Crane settled a safe distance away, on the branch of a nearby tree. The other jungle creatures, seeing the fearless Crane, came creeping back to see what would happen. The Crane watched the Lion for a few minutes and then spoke. “Oh Friend,” he said, addressing the Lion, “you appear troubled. What is ailing you? Can I be of service?” The Lion looked to the left. He looked to the right. He turned around one way, and then he turned around the other way. “Who is speaking? Show yourself,” he said in a rasping voice, for the bone was making it difficult to speak. “Up here, Friend,” replied the Crane, “Up in the tree. Why are you pacing back and forth and growling like that?” The Lion, even though he was furious and hungry, said, “I am suffering terribly. The other day, when I was enjoying a meal, a bone became stuck in my throat. Try as I might, I cannot get rid of it. It causes me great discomfort; I cannot eat and I cannot drink. It is making my throat swell and it is getting harder to speak and breath. It causes me great pain, and all I can do is pace back and forth and roar in anger.”

17. La Fontaigne Another name associated with fables is Jean de L a Fontaigne , a Frenchman who turned many of the fables of Aesop into verses.

18. The shepherd and the wolf There once lived a kind shepherd in a village. He looked after several sheep. Every morning, he would bring the sheep to eat grass in a big field. In the evening, he would bring the sheep back to the farm. He looked after his sheep very well. Not far from the farm was a thick jungle. In the jungle, there lived a cunning wolf. Everyday, the wolf watched the shepherd brought the sheep to the field. The wolf was thinking of a way to catch the sheep. O ne day , the wolf went near to the sheep farm. While the wolf was resting there, the shepherd saw the wolf. The shepherd went near the wolf and wanted to chase the wolf away.

19. “What are you doing here?” asked the shepherd. “I just came here to rest after walking for so long,” the wolf replied. The shepherd believed the wolf. One day, the shepherd wanted to go to the town. However, he was worried as there was nobody to feed his sheep. Then he saw the same wolf whom he had met before. “Hi, Mr. Wolf. Can you help me? Ca you look after my sheep as I have to go to the town?” asked the shepherd. “You do not have to worry. I will take good care of your sheep,” replied the wolf with smile. As soon as the shepherd gone, the wolf ate the sheep one by one. The wolf was so happy to get such an easy and big meal. When the shepherd returned, he found that all his sheep had been eaten by the wolf.

20. Moral: Don’t trust your enemies.

21. The ant and the pigeon There was once a family of ant in a jungle. They lived there peacefully. The baby ant helped his parents to find food. One day, the baby ant went to find food near the river. While, finding for food, the little ant slipped and fell into the river. The river water was flowing very fast. The little ant tried to save himself but he nearly drowned. Then he shouted for help. “Help! Help!” The ant’s shouts were heard by a pigeon. The pigeon was eating on a branch of a tree by the river. He saw the ant who was nearly drowned. “Don’t worry, little ant. I will help you,” said the pigeon. Then the pigeon plucked a leaf and let it go towards the baby ant.

22. “Come on little ant. Climb onto the leaf,” said the pigeon. The ant managed to climb up onto the leaf. The leaf floated to the side of the river and the ant was finally saved. “Thank you Mr. Pigeon for saving me,” said the ant. A few days later, the little ant went out to find food in the forest. Suddenly, he saw a hunter pointing his rifle at a pigeon. Then he realized it was the same pigeon who had saved him from drowning. “I must help the pigeon,” said the ant. Before the hunter could shoot the pigeon, the ant bite the hunter’s leg. The hunter shouted in pain and his shot missed the pigeon. The pigeon was saved. “Thank you little ant for saving my life,” said the pigeon.

23. Moral : One kind deed deserves another.

24. Characteristics of Fables

25. Animals are made to think, act and talk like a human . The moral lesson of the story is usually at the end. Characters of the story are usually animals .

26. The story is usually short. Animals personify human beings. The fable is full of actions and conversations . Full of humor and funny situations. Some have tragic and dramatic series of events.

27. Values of Fables

28. They give delight and enjoyment to both children and adults. They teach ethical truth in an attractive manner or form. They provide background for the understanding of many new or current expressions and allusions. Some of the fables serve as a guide to good conduct on the child’s level of experience. Children enjoy the fables because of the prominent part played by animals. They touch moral and spiritual sense of values. They cultivate thinking and imagination. They are good for storytelling and dramatization purposes.