This blog post begins the review of my assigned readings in USC’s fall 2021 SLIS 600 Storytelling class. Our first week’s module instructed us to read a handful of fables. I thought, no problem, I’ll just head over to my children’s bookshelf. There, I learned however, that what I thought was a book of fables was actually a book of fairy tales, which I soon discovered are two different genres (something I’m feeling a bit guilty about not knowing as a library science student – better late than never?). According to The Book Genre Dictionary, fables are:
“made up of stories told through animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects, and/or forces of nature that have been give [sic] human traits, such as verbal communications (anthropomorphized). The stories in the fable genre impart some kind of moral lesson or useful truth to the reader that’s easier to take from the less human characters” (Malatesta, 2018)
After borrowing a much loved (evident from its many handwritten tabbed pages) Aesop's Fables (pictured above) from my homeschooling-mom neighbor/friend, my youngest son and I cuddled up for some old school lessons which we soon learned were just as relevant today as when written long ago.
“The Belly and the Other Members”
“The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse”
“The Fox and the Goat”
“The Fox and the Grapes”
“The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”
What immediately struck me when reading these fables were how short they were; the majority were a mere half page long; most likely the last time I read or heard a fable was when I was a young child and do not remember their length. As someone who appreciates un-minced words, these fables’ brevity was a welcome style to longer flowy prose. Another enjoyable aspect of the fables was the simple, yet un-juvenile storylines that I imagine would appeal to both the young (relatable animals) and to the old(er) (I found myself explaining what famished and trellis meant in my son’s favorite fable, The Fox and the Grapes).
The Fox and the Grapes sparse wording was supported by the typically portrayed animal characters – a cunning fox and its naïve animal counterparts. All of these basic (in a good way) traits of fables from Aesop’s are wrapped up with postscript applications (or as we would call them nowadays, takeaways) that ring eerily true. For example, The Fox and the Goat, about a fox who tricks a goat into inadvertently helping him escape a well, has an application that states, “It is not safe to trust the advice of a man in difficulties,” something I believe most would agree with. These fable applications’ words of wisdom are similar to my beloved grandmother’s often touted sage sayings, such as, “You can’t put an old head on young shoulders.” The fables’ helpful and easily remembered statements on navigating life with their easily understood, brief, supporting stories, are a reason I will be seeking out additional fables to add to my storytelling practice for sure.
References
Aesop. (1947). The belly and the other members. Aesop’s
fables (p. 46). Grosset & Dunlap.
Aesop. (1947). The country mouse and the town mouse.
Aesop’s fables (pp. 146-148). Grosset & Dunlap.
Aesop. (1947). The fox and the goat. Aesop’s fables (p.
15). Grosset & Dunlap.
Aesop. (1947). The fox and the grapes. Aesop’s fables
(p. 14). Grosset & Dunlap.
Aesop. (1947). The wolf in sheep’s clothing. Aesop’s
fables (p. 2). Grosset & Dunlap.
Aesop's Fables. The fox and the grapes - Hoopla Kids [YouTube Video]. https://youtu.be/teIj7fak6eU
Hey Michelle!
ReplyDeleteIt's so sweet you found such a well-loved version of Aesop's Fables. One thing that surprised me too in rediscovering them this week is how short they are! For some reason I remember them being so much longer when I was a child. Maybe it was the point that there was a moral point to each story, haha. I also had a "wait!" moment as I was looking up fables on our children's book shelves, getting them confused with fairytales, so don't feel bad! Thanks for sharing with us!
Ashley Hutto
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteI also confused the genre of fables with fairytales and actually grabbed a book of fairytales to conduct my readings. It is nice to know we are not alone in this! I also read some of Aesop's fables, just a different version. I read The Baby's Own Aesop by Walter Crane. The illustrations are just wonderful. I like how you included a definition of fables for us and enjoyed your post! By the way, the physical copy of Aesop's Fables you were able to acquire is amazing!
I love Aesop's Fables. I just wish we could spend more time on them especially in school. They provide such good moral lesson not just for kids but adults as well. I love your post. Thank you
ReplyDeleteLatoya Bennett
Hi Michelle!
ReplyDeleteI didn’t remember fables being so short, either! I’m sure that I’ve read some of Aesop’s fables before, but like you, it had to have been when I was fairly young, so maybe they just seemed longer back then. When I started reading them this week, I had to stop and make sure I wasn’t missing a page or overlooking a few extra paragraphs somewhere. I had the same confusion with fables and fairy tales; I’m pretty sure my brain unknowingly mixed up Aesop’s Fables with Grimms’ Fairy Tales, which was probably also part of my surprise when I read the actual fables. Also, now that you mention it, the morals of Aesop’s fables do remind me of the type of advice that I would hear from a wise grandparent!
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with your blog. I can absolutely see how you got confused between fairy tales and fables. I mention how this happens all the time on my blog. Know you're not alone. :) You mentioned how short they are, and that is one of the reasons I love them. They are meaningful, engaging, and a quick read. You also mentioned how they appeal to a variety of age groups. This makes them even more special! I love when a genre can be loved and appreciated by the young and old. I'm looking forward to seeing them used for storytelling!
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the book of fables! I enjoy your writing style and I love that reading the fables brought back memories of your grandmother.
Hi Michelle, I also was amazed at how short most of the fables were when I read through them. It goes to show you that strong messages can come in small packages. My kids would often respond with "Its an alligator/wolf/lion, don't do that!!!... Are you crazy?!" All urging the small frog, dog, bird or turtle to not trust them. It is so interesting that these stories are understood at a young age.
ReplyDelete