HOW to Write a Fable

Over the centuries people have often told brief stories that teach a lesson or a moral.Aesop,who lived in ancient Greece,was a famous writer of these tales,which are called fables.

What is a fable? A fable is a very short story used to teach lesson or a moral.The moral is usually stated at the end of the story.The caracters in a fable are often animals that act like people.Their actions help to explain the moral or the lesson.

1 Choose a Moral

In order to write  a fable,it is easier to choose a moral or a lesson first and then plan a story around it.Think of the moral or lesson as the punch line of the story.One way to choose a moral or a lesson is to make a list of sayings,such as “look before you leap”or “Haste makes waste.”Iff you want,invent your own.After you complete your list,choose one saying that you think teaches an important lesson.

2 Plan yor Fable

Now that you have decided on your moral,it’s time to plan your fable.What should happen in thlee history in order for your moral to make sense?Think about a beginning,a middle,and an ending for your history.Jot down some ideas for possible plots and choose the one that best illustrates the lesson you want to teach.Remember that fables are short,so you will want to keep the action simple.

Next,decide what caracters will be needed.Then,think about the setting.Where will your fable take place?Keep track of your final ideas by making a chart with three columns- the first for “Charaters,”the second for ‘Setting,”and the last for ‘Plot Summary.”

Write Your Story

Use the ideas on your chart to write a first draft of your fable.If you are having trouble geiitng started,sketch the main scenes of your story.imagine what the figures are saying to each other.Start writing your draft based on your sketches.Once you have completed a rough draft,revise it ot besure the story and the moral are clear.Be sure to use lots of descriptive language and action verbs in your writing.At the end of the fable,write your moral.Then give your fable a snappy title.

Share Your Fable

If you have time,you may want to illustrate your fable.When everyone is finished,exchange fables.See if you can guess the moral of the story before reading it at the end.