Fables

A fable is a short story, often with animal characters, intended to teach a moral lesson.

Fables were told orally over the years Fables were told orally over the years. People retold them to each other. Fables were finally written down in 300 B.C.

Fables have been around for a long time Fables have been around for a long time. Many people have written or told them. The most famous person who wrote fables was Aesop. He was a Greek slave, who lived around 600 B.C.

Aesop told stories to amuse his friends. His stories were called fables. Most of the stories had animal characters in them. The animals acted like humans. Each fable ended with a moral. A moral is a lesson to be learned from the story.

The Ant and the Grasshopper Traditional Version http://www.umass.edu/aesop/content.php?n=0&i=1 Modern Version http://www.umass.edu/aesop/content.php?n=0&i=2

Moral of Story It is best to prepare for the days of necessity

Compare/Contrast Traditional Same Modern

The Lion and the Mouse http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/aesop/index.html

Moral of Story Little friends may prove great friends

The Tortoise and the Hare http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/aesop/index.html

Moral of Story Plodding (working steadily and laboriously) wins the race

The Fox and His Shadow http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/aesop/index.html

Moral of Story Remember…A false appearance is no match for the real thing!

A Lesson For the Foolish Crow http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/aesop/index.html

Moral of Story Remember…Don’t always believe what you hear!