Parables : Definition & Examples | literature elements |Terms

Parables Definition

Term

Parables 

                A parable is a very short narrative and didactic story. It can be in prose or verse that teaches one or more moral lessons or principles. Many parables are religious in nature and can be found in religious texts such as Bible. Parable differs from a fable because fable describe animals, plants, forces of nature as character, where as parable have human characters. A parable is type of analogy. 

       

            Parable such as "The Prodigal Son" are the best example. It was Jesus Christ who used this method to teach his disciplines. The device was more popular in middle ages. 

Example :

•         Chauser's in "Pardoner' s Tale" 

            preaches the theme that greed is the root of all evil. In this narrative, there people go out to find the death but by good luck, they find a heap of gold. But, they kill one another for the sake of their own greed.

                      The main motive of parable is to teach simple truth or moral lessons.