Interpreting short fables correctly

Fables are mostly short stories in which human characteristics and behavior are transferred to animals, plants or objects. This fact makes fables a popular subject in classes: The classic literary means of integrating a deeper meaning into a text is nowhere else so clearly shown. Fables usually consist of three parts: the initial situation, the conflict and the solution. Read here how to correctly interpret these three parts.

Short Fables: Understanding the Initial Situation

In the initial situation of a fable, the actors are actually always presented and located.

1. First, take a closer look at the actors. What are they represented as and what are the typical characteristics of the animal or object as that or which they are represented as?
2. So if, for example, there is a snake, you can imagine that a deceitful person is mean. A sheep can represent a stupid person, a goose a talkative person.
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3. Make a note of the human traits that occur to you about the characters - the text then also relates to such people.


Fabulous analysis - this is how it works

For a fable analysis you need a little cultural background knowledge, a little ...

Interpret the conflict of fables

In every fable, no matter how short, there is a conflict.

• One of the characters will start the conflict. Notice how that happens. By a stupid remark, a provocation? This shows the character of the figure very clearly.
• Then the other character will react to the conflict that has started. Again, how it does this is important. Smart and level-headed, angry, exasperated or arrogant? Every reaction represents a human trait.
• So look carefully at the interaction between the two characters in the conflict and ask yourself which one all the time what the author is trying to say: he wants the absurdity of some disputes turn out? Or the importance of clarifying discussions? Make notes about this as well.

The resolution of the fable - that's really what it's about

At the end of the fable there is also the end of the conflict that has begun.

1. Here it is important that you first consider how the conflict will end: will it be resolved? Do both sides close and split up in an argument?
2. Try again to transfer the end of the conflict to human behavior: What is represented here - stubbornness, willingness to compromise, deceit?
3. What do the actors' reactions say about the character ascribed to them? Do they suit you or do you recognize new aspects that you would not have suspected of them?
4. Is there an aha-effect at the end of the fable or would the reader have expected exactly this end?

Try to formulate the statement of the fable as a proverb à la "Whoever digs a pit for others, falls into it". Very often this succeeds and at the end of your interpretation you can summarize the quintessence of the fable as a meaningful sentence.