Fable

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Fables

Recap! What is a fable?

What is PERSONification?

What is the setting of a story? You can also give examples

Can you name a few differences between folktales and fables?

Story

A young frog, amazed at the huge size of an ox, rushed to tell her father about the monster. The father frog, trying to impress his child, puffed himself up to look like the ox. The young frog said it was much bigger. Again the father puffed himself up. The young frog insisted the monster was even bigger. The father puffed and puffed - and burst!

1. Does the story mention a setting?

2. Who/what are the characters?

3. In your own words, what happens in the story?

A young frog, amazed at the huge size of an ox, rushed to tell her father about the monster. The father frog, trying to impress his child, puffed himself up to look like the ox. The young frog said it was much bigger. Again the father puffed himself up. The young frog insisted the monster was even bigger. The father puffed and puffed - and burst!

1. Why does the father keep puffing himself up?

2. What is the outcome of his actions?

3. What is the message the story wants to send? (moral of the story)

A young frog, amazed at the huge size of an ox, rushed to tell her father about the monster. The father frog, trying to impress his child, puffed himself up to look like the ox. The young frog said it was much bigger. Again the father puffed himself up. The young frog insisted the monster was even bigger. The father puffed and puffed - and burst!

1. Why does the father keep puffing himself up?

2. What is the outcome of his actions?

3. What is the message the story wants to send? (moral of the story)

Story

A very large oak was uprooted by the wind, and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds. They replied: You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we, on the contrary, bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken.

1. Does the story mention a setting?

2. Who/what are the characters?

3. In your own words, what happens in the story?

A very large oak was uprooted by the wind, and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds. They replied: You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we, on the contrary, bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken.

1. What is the oak's opinion on the reeds? 

2. Why did the reeds not break?

3. What is the message the story wants to send? (moral of the story)

A very large oak was uprooted by the wind, and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds. They replied: You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we, on the contrary, bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken.

1. What is the oak's opinion on the reeds?
2. Why did the reeds not break?
3. What is the message the story wants to send? (moral of the story)

Homework: Write your own fable

Write a story in which the moral of the story is 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' or another moral of your choosing.

Include personified animals or objects and a setting. 

The fable should be around 80-100 words.