Elements Of A Fable

BASICS OF A FABLE: A fable usually has animal characters with human traits (for example, a wise owl, or a foolish monkey). The story also has a moral to it, which is a valuable lesson that the reader, as well as the animal in the story learns. All fables have a: * Beginning: Setting, characters in situation * Middle: * End:

An explanation of what the problem is and how the characters attempt to solve problem.

Moral or lesson to be learned from story.

Directions: Read the following fable and try to identify the moral of the story. When you are done reading, fill in the answers to the following questions. Please use complete sentences. 1. What is the setting of the fable? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 2. Identify the characters in the story. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 3. What is the problem or the situation of the story? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 4. Was the problem solved? If so, how? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 5. Was there a moral to the fable? What was it? If you are not sure, take a guess and compare your answer with a friend. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

The Man and the Serpent

A Countryman's son by accident walked upon a Serpent's tail, the serpent turned and bit him, and he died. The father got angry and got his axe. He chased the Serpent, and cut off part of its tail. The Serpent in revenge began stinging several of the Farmer's cattle and many cows died. Well, the Farmer thought it best to make up with the Serpent, and brought food and honey to the front of its nest, and said to it: "Let's forget and forgive; maybe you were right to punish my son, and take revenge on my cattle, but of course I was right in trying to revenge him; now that we are both satisfied why can’t we be friends again?" "No, no," said the Serpent; "take away your gifts; you can never forget the death of your son, nor I the loss of my tail."

Moral: Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten. * Explain in your own words what this means: _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________