Aesop’s Fables

Today’s Warm-upDate:

What is a moral?

What is a FABLE?

Today’s objectiveDefine and discuss who Aesop is and what is a fable.

To read, analyze, and discuss one of Aesop’s fables.

To work collaboratively to read, discuss, and identify the morals in some of Aesop’s fables.

A fable is…..1. A usually short narrative making

an edifying or cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like humans.

2. A short moral story, esp. one with animals as characters.

Compare between genresWhat genre might fables be similar to?

A fairy taleA tall tale

Who is AESOP?Aesop was a slave in ancient Greece and a Greek story teller. He lived in ancient Rome, in the home of a wealthy Roman family.

Legend says … Aesop’s Roman master was so delighted with Aesop’s fables that he granted Aesop his freedom!

How Aesop's’ fables came to be…

There are no records to prove that Aesop ever wrote anything down. Fortunately, after his death, people did write down every fable they could remember.

Over the centuries, Aesop's fables have been rewritten and illustrated and translated into nearly every language in the world.

Aesop and AnimalsHe was a keen observer of both animals and

people. Most of the characters in his stories are animals, some of which take on human characteristic and are personified in ways of speech and emotions. However, the majority of his character retain their animalistic qualities; tortoise are slow, hares are quick, tigers eat bird, etc.

Aesop uses these qualities and natural tendencies of animals to focus on human traits and wisdom. Each fable has an accompanying moral to be learned from the tale.

His Fables TodayToday, we still enjoy these

wonderful stories created over 2,500 years ago! 

Each is a very short story, and each has a moral.

The Tortoise and the HareWhat is the moral of the story?

Writing Assignment: Create Your Own FableAssignment:

You have been asked to update one of Aesop’s fables with a more modern day twist.

First, read through each of the fables highlighting and labeling characters, setting, main events, and the moral.

oExample: C=characters, S=Setting, E=event, M=moral

oYou may even want to jot down notes about the fable in the margin.

Second, select one of the fables and complete the brainstorm worksheet to help you prepare to write a modern day version.

When you know what modern twist your fable is going to take on, then begin completing the plot diagram.

We will take a look at some sample to help you get the big idea!

Snow WhiteWhat do we know about Snow White?

Snow WhiteEvil witchSeven dwarfs that work in the coal mineEvil witch feeds Snow White a poison apple.Snow White is the fairest in all the landRescued by a prince