Difference Between Folktale & Fable

Folktale vs Fable
 
Folktales and fables are two distinct types of stories often passed on orally from one generation to another. While both types of stories are influenced by various cultural elements, they differ in the content and morals they convey. Folktales involve stories passed down from ancestors of a specific group of people to younger generations, whereas a fable is a story based on a myth or featuring a moral lesson.

What is a Folktale?

Folktales are stories passed down from ancestors of a particular group of people to younger generations, following an oral tradition. These stories are typically unique to different groups, meaning that folktales in Britain, for example, may differ from those in Japan. Most folktales feature a moral message, which is why they are often confused with fables.

Characterized by human beings as main characters, folktales can also include supernatural elements, wisdom, action, happy endings, and justice. The story often revolves around an obstacle that the characters must overcome. Folktales can encompass adventure stories, ghost stories, historical tales, fairy tales, or moral stories. Well-known folktale collections include Andres Lang’s Fairy books and Charles Perrault’s Tales of Mother Goose.

What is a Fable?

A fable is a short, simple story based on a myth or featuring a moral lesson. Fables often use animals as main characters, attributing human-like characteristics to them in a process known as anthropomorphism.

Some of the best examples of fables in the Western world are Aesop’s Fables, Arnold Lobel’s Fables, and Jams Thurber’s Fables of our time. While fables are also usually passed on from one generation to another, some are written by authors and created by individuals, rather than originating from a traditional background.

Key Takeaways

• Folktales are stories passed down from ancestors of a particular group of people, whereas fables are stories based on myths or featuring moral lessons.
• While both folktales and fables are often passed on from one generation to another, fables can also be created by authors and not be part of a traditional background.
• Folktales feature human beings as main characters, while fables anthropomorphize animals, giving them human-like characteristics.