How to Write a Fable

A fable is a short story that teaches a moral lesson. The characters in a fable are usually animals who act like humans, embodying certain characteristics. The lion represents power, the crocodile ferociousness, and the fox cunning. These animals act according to their nature, suffering the consequences of their behaviour, thus teaching us how to act properly.

For example, in “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the slow but steady tortoise wins a race against the fast but lazy hare, teaching us that “slow and steady wins the race.”

Here’s how to write your own fable in three steps.

Step One: Choose A Moral Lesson

The heart of any fable is the moral lesson it teaches. Before you can write your fable, you need to know what it’s about. So think of a common moral mistake people make and how they might overcome it.

Here are some examples of moral lessons:

• The Dog and the Shadow: A dog with a bone sees his reflection in a pond, mistaking it for another dog with another bone. In his greed, the dog snatches at the other dog’s bone, dropping his own bone in the process and losing it in the pond. The lesson is that if we’re greedy, we may lose what we already have.
• The Frog King and the Handsome Snake: When the Frog King invites the snakes into his well to kill his enemy, he cannot control the evil he unleashes, and the ravenous snake eats everyone he loves. It speaks to the dangers of hiring mercenaries to protect a kingdom, inventing nuclear bombs, and experimenting with artificial intelligence.
• The Envious Neighbour: A man is granted a wish but is told his neighbour will be granted two of whatever he wishes for. He decides to have one of his eyes plucked out. The lesson is that if we let ourselves be guided by our envy, we’ll harm ourselves in our efforts to spite others.

For our fable, let’s say we want to communicate that friendships are often subconsciously motivated by selfish interests.

Step Two: Choose Animals that Embody the Traits You Need

In the realm of fables, animals symbolize human traits. A tortoise is slower than a hare, a frog cannot possibly control a snake, and a lamb lives in fear of wolves. This makes the stories both simpler and more memorable

Here are some examples of what animals commonly symbolize:

1. Fox: Known for being clever and cunning, the fox represents trickery or resourcefulness.
2. Lion: As the “king of the jungle,” the lion symbolizes strength, courage, and authority. In some fables, lions represent arrogance or even bluster.
3. Hare: Hares are skittish, often symbolizing timidity. However, in “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the hare just as easily represents speed and overconfidence.
4. Tortoise: Given how long they can live, tortoises usually embody patience and wisdom. However, in “The Talkative Tortoise,” the tortoise is presented as an old person who cannot stop talking.
5. Wolf: Wolves frequently represent danger, cunning, or predatory behaviour, as in the Boy Who Cried Wolf and the Wolf and the Lamb. They’re also pack animals that represent community and loyalty.
6. Crow/Raven: These birds are often portrayed as intelligent problem-solvers, representing cleverness or trickery. They are also carrion eaters, representing foreboding.
7. Snake: Snakes have a complex symbolism. In some stories, they symbolize deceit or danger. But they also shed their skin, representing transformation and renewal.
8. Bear: Bears often represent strength, courage, and maternal protection. Due to their hibernation habits, they can also symbolize introspection, sloth, or laziness.
9. Elephant: Known for their long memory and communal behaviour, elephants often represent wisdom, strength, and loyalty. In “The Elephant and the Rope,” the elephant, though big and strong, is held back by its lack of confidence.
10. Peacock: With their bright and colourful plumage, peacocks often symbolize beauty, pride, and vanity.
11. Mouse: Mice, being small and often hidden, can represent timidity, modesty, or meekness. They can also symbolize resourcefulness.
12. Eagle: As a bird that soars high above the earth, eagles often symbolize freedom, strength, and vision.
13. Swan: Known for their elegance, swans often symbolize beauty, grace, and personal growth.
14. Horse: Horses, known for their strength and speed, often symbolize power, freedom, and nobility.
15. Monkey: Monkeys, known for their intelligence and playfulness, often symbolize mischief, curiosity, and cleverness.

These are just ideas. Don’t feel limited by them. You can draw on any characteristic of any animal. Just make sure it resonates with the reader. It has to feel right.

For our fable, let’s imagine two apex predators with separate domains: a crocodile and a jaguar. These animals have little to compete over and could form a powerful alliance, giving them every reason to become friends. Let’s contrast that against a toucan who holds little power and has little to offer aside from his kindness, which he gives to everyone indiscriminately.

Step Three: Imagine How a Conflict Could Play Out

Now that we have the moral lesson, the characters, and the traits those characters embody, all we need to do is let those characters enter into a conflict and see how it plays out.

Here are some examples of how to create and resolve a conflict:

• Let’s say we have a fable about the importance of patience. We can have a slow tortoise and a fast hare enter into a race with one another. The hare is much faster, but he isn’t patient, so he takes a break midway through the race, allowing the tortoise to pass him.
• Now let’s imagine we have a fable about the importance of practice. We could imagine a hare taught from a young age about the importance of outrunning predators. He practices running every day. The jaguar, on the other hand, is an ambush predator. He’s taught the value of waiting patiently until it’s time to pounce. When the arrogant jaguar challenges the hare to a race, the hare is much more practiced, so he easily outpaces the lazy jaguar.
• Finally, let’s imagine we have a fable about the importance of cunning. We could imagine a snake who challenges a hare to a race. When the race begins, the snake lets the hare race ahead, then hides in a bush. Another snake emerges from another bush right near the finish line, waits until the hare comes into view, then slithers across the finish line, winning the race.

In our example about the hidden self-interest underneath many friendships, we could have a friendly toucan confused about why it has no friends, so it seeks out the advice of the cold but popular crocodile.

Conclusion: The Finished Fable

The Crocodile and the Lonely Toucan: A long time ago, a long way from here, there lived a toucan named Toco. Toco was a kind-hearted bird who greeted everyone with a warm smile and a cheerful chirp. He would offer fruits from his beak to all the jungle creatures, be they small or large, weak or strong.

On the other side of the jungle lived a cold and calculating crocodile named Coco. He was rude to every animal except for one, a jaguar named Jairo. Coco would catch fish for Jairo and offer him sips from the lagoon, and in return, Jairo would drop down treats from the trees above. They also shared a love of philosophy and would argue deep into the night.

The other animals of the jungle envied Jairo’s relationship with Coco. They longed to befriend Coco, hoping to receive his protection and share the bounties of the lagoon. They would bring him gifts and try to win him over, seeking his favour.

Despite his kindness, Toco struggled to make true friends in the jungle. The other animals appreciated his generosity but never sought to forge a deeper connection. They took Toco’s friendship for granted, knowing he would always be there with a kind word and a treat.

One day, feeling disheartened, Toco approached Coco at the lagoon’s edge. “Coco,” Toco lamented, “I am friendly and generous to everyone, yet I have no close friends. How is it that you, who are cold to all but Jairo, have every creature in the jungle trying to befriend you?”

Coco looked at Toco, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Toco,” he replied, “you are kind to everyone because you believe it is the right thing to do. If being a good creature is your only goal, you do not need friends. You have already succeeded.”

Toco hesitated before admitting, “I do want to be a good creature, Coco, but I also desire the warmth of true friendship.”

Coco thought for a moment. “There is no reason for the creatures of the jungle to form a bond with you. They have nothing to gain by becoming your friend, as you already give them everything you have.”