Reading Notes: Tiny Tailes: Reading A: Aesop's Fables

 How Full Stories Are Told in 100 Words: Here are some ways the author tells stories concisely.

1. The majority of the stories use dialogue. Some of the stories are even majority dialogue, with very few other details. Direct quotes give readers a direct sense of what's happening without needing to ask themselves many other questions.
2. The stories do not describe the setting, or only give a sparse depiction if it is necessary for the plot. The settings are familiar or easily imagined, like a river, forest, cave, shed, etc., so it is fairly easy for the reader to fill in the details of the setting themselves.
3. Most of the stories do not describe the internal processes of the characters, but only show their actions. Speaking and physical action are all more common than internal thoughts or feelings, which virtually do not exist in these stories. Sometimes vague emotional states like "angry" and "foolish" are mentioned, but these seem to refer more to personality traits of the characters than temporary feelings. Overall, characters are very one-dimensional. 
4. Some stories have a moral at the end that sums up the meaning of the whole story quickly. It is not too complex, and it ties together a story that may otherwise feel too short to offer anything substantial.

Some of My Favorite Stories:

1. The Lion and the Unicorn: I like this story because the unicorn is portrayed as equal in status to the lion, but most other creatures in these tales are inferior to it. The phrases "fierce enemies" and "defeating him at last" give more salience to the quarrel.
2. The Old Lion's Last Breath: This story stood out to me because it ends with a sense of justice, assuming the lion had abused his power in his glory days. One way to rewrite this story could be the dying of a noble lion, which other creatures respect and mourn because of the protection he might have offered them.
3. The Lion and the Bear: I like this story because I think the moral is true and clearly shown. Fighting and disagreements can keep people who are on the same team, trying to accomplish the same goal, from achieving the smallest of tasks. To be honest, this story reminded me of a couple I am friends with who bicker over everything from how to cook brussel sprouts to where to go for coffee.
4. The Fox and the Ape: This is another story I like because of its moral. The fox seems very wise in this story, because the message his actions conveyed was more nuanced than most of the other fables.
5. The Fox and the Grapes: I picked out this story because I just learned about "rationalization" as a defense mechanism in my psychology class, and the textbook we use discussed the fox in this very story claiming the grapes were sour as an example of rationalization. In the story, the fox says that they were probably sour loudly to preserve his reputation, but rationalization is also used to convince oneself that they are not as incompetent as it would seem.
6. The Fox and the Moon: This story seemed vaguely familiar and a little bit funny. It reminds me of the myth of Narcissus—both he and the fox meet their ends by staring at the reflection of water, but for very different reasons.

"The Fox and the Grapes" illustration by janwillemsen on Flickr.

Story Source: Gibbs, Laura. Tiny Tales From Aesop.