Final answer:
Aesop is known for writing stories that teach a moral lesson, and these are defined as parables, which are simple stories used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is B) Parables.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aesop is famous for writing stories that impart a lesson or moral to the reader. These stories are succinct, with each one typically ending with a moral or lesson that is meant to teach the reader something about how to behave or think. Aesop's tales are not novels, myths, or poems, rather they are best described as parables. A parable is a simple and short story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, just as those found in Aesop's Fables.
The term 'myth' generally refers to a story that may serve to explain the world around us or the customs and beliefs of a society, often involving supernatural elements or deities. Myths differ from Aesop's Fables in that they are usually more complex and are not primarily intended as straightforward morality lessons. In contrast, Aesop's stories are more straightforward and didactic, intended to convey ethical principles directly through the consequences of characters' actions, often animals with human traits.
To sum up, Aesop's stories are formulated not to pose questions about the universe or to present a detailed epic but to teach direct moral lessons through narrative. They are clear examples of parables, helping to guide the behavior and thoughts of those who read them. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is B) Parables.