Question

In your own words, explain the difference between a parable and a fable, and give an example of each.

a) Una parábola es una narración que enseña una lección moral, mientras que una fábula utiliza animales con cualidades humanas para transmitir una lección moral, por ejemplo, "La parábola del Buen Samaritano" y "La liebre y la tortuga".
b) Una fábula es una historia que utiliza personajes humanos para enseñar una lección, mientras que una parábola es una narración que utiliza animales para transmitir una lección moral, por ejemplo, "El cuervo y el zorro" y "El hijo pródigo".
c) Una parábola es una narración humorística, mientras que una fábula es una historia seria. Por ejemplo, "La parábola del Buen Samaritano" y "La lechera".
d) Una parábola es una alegoría, mientras que una fábula es una historia simple. Por ejemplo, "La parábola del Sembrador" y "El lobo y los corderos".

Answer 1

A parable is a narrative that illustrates a moral lesson with human characters in realistic settings, like 'The Parable of the Good Samaritan,' while a fable uses animals with human traits to teach morality, such as in 'The Tortoise and the Hare.' Both function as educational tools but differ in style and character use.

Step-by-step explanation:

In literature, a parable is a short, straightforward story that is used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, with human characters and realistic scenarios. A classic example is "The Parable of the Good Samaritan," which teaches the importance of compassion and helping others regardless of their background or ethnicity.

In contrast, a fable is also a brief story, but this genre is characterized by anthropomorphic animals—that is, animals that exhibit human-like qualities—and often conveys a moral lesson. One of the most recognized fables is "The Tortoise and the Hare," which imparts the moral that slow and steady wins the race.

Both types of stories, while distinct, are similar in that they teach important lessons through symbolism. Whereas a parable draws on more realistic and relatable situations to illuminate human behaviors and ethics, fables use the imagined world of talking animals and exaggerated scenarios to highlight human virtues and vices.