This document provides guidance on how to write a fable. It explains that fables are stories that use animals as characters to teach a moral or life lesson. It identifies key elements to consider, such as choosing a moral, selecting animal characters that fit the moral, setting the story, naming the animals appropriately, including dialogue between animals, and concluding the story by restating the moral. The document emphasizes selecting a clear moral or life lesson and choosing animals whose traits match that lesson and considering story elements like setting, plot events, and character introductions when crafting a fable.

1. HOW TO WRITE A
FABLE

2. Fables…
… a story that teaches a lesson
…characters are animals
…animals talk
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3. Fable Elements
Many things to think about before writing a fable
• Moral – a lesson
• Animals
• Animals’ names
• Setting
• Introducing the animals/characters
• Dialogue between characters
• Sequencing events of the story
• Conclusion of story / moral
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4. Moral
a life long lesson
Life-long lesson
Do to others as you would
like them to do to you.
Cheaters never win.
Don’t judge a book by its
cover.
Good lessons – but not
considered a life-long
lesson-
Not a Moral
Pick up trash on the road.
Brush your teeth three times
a day.
Don’t hit your brother or
sister.
Write down a few morals you think you can
use. ***

5. Choose your animals (2)
• Animals should “go
with the moral”
• Often a “good
guy/bad guy
relationship”
• Often they are
“natural enemies”
• Personification:
animals take on
human characteristics
Good Guy/Bad Guy
Mouse/Snake
Natural Enemies
Cat/Dog
Bad:
snake/shark/bear/lion/rat
Good:
bunny/mouse/kitten/cow
***

6. Setting…
Where/ When story takes
place
SETTING
SEASON TIME PLACE
SUMMER / WINTER
SPRING / AUTUMN
DAY
NIGHT
DUSK / DAWN
NOON / MIDNIGHT
OCEAN
SCHOOL
DESERT
FOREST

7. Names of Animals
Names should suit the
moral/story/setting
Slither, the snake – desert
Sly Fox – forest
Messy Mouse – barn
Goldie Fish - ocean/pond
Hairy Bear - cave
Fluffy Bunny - hole in ground
***

8. Writing the Story
• Beginning
Setting
• Middle
Introduce Characters
Problem
Events
• End
Conclusion
Moral
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9. Remember Fable
Elements
There are many things to think about before writing a
fable• Moral – teaches a life-long lesson
• Animals
• Animals’ names
• Setting
• Introducing the animals/characters
• Dialogue between characters
• Sequencing events of the story
• Conclusion of story / moral
***

10. Remember Fable
Elements
There are many things to think about before writing a
fable• Moral – teaches a life-long lesson
• Animals
• Animals’ names
• Setting
• Introducing the animals/characters
• Dialogue between characters
• Sequencing events of the story
• Conclusion of story / moral
***