Fable Facts
What is a fable?
What is the lesson a fable teaches called?
Theme/Moral
A fox shares his food with a hungry rabbit. What character trait does this show?
Kind, generous, caring, or compassionate.
What do we call the main challenge a character faces
The problem or conflict.
If a character is constantly helping others, what can you infer about their character?
They are probably kind, caring, generous, or helpful.
True or False: Every fable must have talking animals.
False!
What was the theme/moral we learned from the Fable "The Hare & The Tortoise"?
SURPRISE! DOUBLE POINTS!!
(Answers vary)
The race is not always to the swift.
Slow and steady wins the race.
A turtle keeps trying after failing three times. What trait does this show?
Determined, persistent, or hardworking.
What do we call the way a character works out a problem
A fox says, "Those grapes weren't worth eating anyway!" after failing to reach them. What might this reveal?
He may be making excuses, feeling embarrassed, or refusing to admit he failed.
Name two common characteristics of fables.
Possible answers: short story, teaches a lesson, animals act like humans, simple plot, character traits, moral/theme.
Would this make a good moral?
Eat a cupcake every Saturday.
NO! (It can't connect to a large audience)
A character says, "I don't need anyone's help. I can do everything myself!" What might this dialogue reveal about the character?
They may be proud, stubborn, independent, or unwilling to accept help.
A fox wants something that another animal has. Instead of stealing it, he asks politely and offers to trade. What is his solution?
He solves the problem through cooperation/trading instead of taking something that isn't his.
Why might an author show a character's actions instead of simply telling us their character trait?
It allows readers to infer the trait using evidence from the story.
What is the setting in a story?
When and where the story takes place (place, time, environment)
Would this make a good moral?
Kindness is key to having strong friendships
YES! (Everyone has/wants good friends, it connects to a larger audience)
Why are a character's actions important in a fable?
Actions reveal character traits and can help show or develop the story's lesson.
What is this story missing?
Alex the Iguana was feeling very hungry. He went to a nearby leaf to look for some food, but he fell over and was laying upside down. He felt sad.
A proud rabbit refuses help, makes a mistake, and then admits he should have listened. What lesson might this story teach?
Being willing to listen to others can help us avoid mistakes / pride can get in the way of success.
A story has talking animals, but doesn't teach a lesson. Is it automatically a fable? Explain.
No. Talking animals alone don't make a fable. A fable needs to teach a meaningful lesson or moral.
A fable's moral is: "Don't give up when something is difficult." What could be a deeper theme?
Perseverance or determination can help people overcome challenges.
A rabbit laughs at a slow turtle. Later, the rabbit loses because he becomes overconfident. What character trait causes the rabbit's problem?
Overconfidence, arrogance, or pride.
Why should a fable's solution connect to its moral?
The character's solution and what happens afterward help show the lesson the author wants readers to learn.
A fable's character is selfish. Their selfish choice creates a problem, and they eventually learn to share. How do the character, problem, solution, and theme connect?
The character's selfishness causes the problem; changing their behavior helps solve it; the solution shows the lesson that sharing and generosity are important.