Final answer:
Fables and folktales often share themes such as transformation, moral lessons, and the importance of inner beauty. Stories like "A White Heron" and "The Queen Bee" highlight these themes, relating them to the classic ugly duckling narrative where the duckling transforms into a swan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The source material for a fable, such as Aesop's Fables or stories collected by the Grimm brothers, often shares similar themes with folktales like the ugly duckling narrative that culminates in the duckling transforming into a beautiful swan.
These tales commonly include elements of transformation, moral lessons, and the importance of inner qualities over outward appearance. The underlying message is frequently one where a character undergoes a significant change, providing a lesson about personal growth or societal values.
For example, in Sarah Orne Jewett's "A White Heron," the protagonist, Sylvia, faces a moral decision that illustrates the story's theme of valuing nature and protecting the innocent, akin to how the ugly duckling is underestimated and ultimately reveals its true beauty as a swan.
In "The Queen Bee," Simpleton's kindness to animals helps him succeed, highlighting the theme that even the smallest creatures have significance, aligning with the morals found in many of Aesop's Fables and Grimm tales.
Stories like these emphasize the journey of a protagonist who must navigate challenges to discover their own value or to effect a positive outcome, which is a parallel to the transformation seen in the ugly duckling's story.