Compare and Contrast Fables

Compare and Contrast Fables

by Jade Rogers

​I can statements

​•I can read myths/fables/folktales and determine the central message/lesson.

•I can compare and contrast fables/myths/folktales written by the same author.

​What is a fable?

​•Fable- A fable is a very brief story in prose or in verse that teaches a moral or a practical lesson about how to succeed in life.

​What is a moral?

​Moral- A moral is a lesson.

Multiple Select

What is a fable? (Select all answers that apply)

• A short story with animals that talk like humans.

• A story that includes a moral or lesson.

• A story that haz wizards, magicians, and lots of magic.

• A story that usually takes place outside.

Multiple Choice

What kind of story is a fable?

• fiction

• non-fiction

Multiple Choice

Fables ____________.

• teach us a lesson

• are non-fiction stories

• tell a funny story

• show us how to draw

Multiple Choice

Which describes the length of a fable?

• Has many chapters

• Short stories

• 1-2 sentences only

• Fables are pictures

Multiple Choice

What is a moral? 

• A short story. 

• An opinion from the author of the story. 

• A moral is a lesson or central message meant to teach you something from a story. 

• The character's traits and feelings.

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the man most famous for creating fables?

• Allen

• Aesop

• Atwood

• Cynthia Rylant

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the theme of "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse" ? 

• Better to be simple and quiet than rich and fearful

• Don't let the mouse eat human food

• The town mouse lives a better life

• Better to live a rich life

Multiple Choice

What is the moral of "The Tortoise and the Hare"?

• Slow and steady wins the race

• Every good deed is rewarded

• Be kind to others.

• Don't tell lies.

Multiple Choice

Once a fox was roaming around in the dark. Unfortunately, he fell into a well. He tried his level best to come out but could not escape. So, he had no other alternative but to remain there until the next morning. The next day, a goat came that way. She peeped into the well and saw the fox there. The goat asked, “what are you doing there, Mr. Fox?”The sly fox replied, “I came here to drink water. It is the best I have ever tasted. Come and see for yourself.” Without thinking even for a while, the goat jumped into the well, quenched her thirst and looked for a way to get out. But just like the fox, she also found herself helpless to come out.Then the fox said, “I have an idea. You stand on your hind legs. I’ll climb on your head and get out. Then I shall help you come out too.” The goat did as the fox said and helped him get out of the well.While walking away without helping the goat, the fox said, “Had you been intelligent enough, you would never have got in without seeing how to get out.” What is the moral of this story?

• The grass is greener on the other side. Choose wisely.

• Look before you leap.  Do not just blindly walk in to anything without thinking.

• Slow and steady wins the race. Never give up.

• Finish your work before you play. Otherwise, you may not survive. 

​What does it mean to compare and contrast?

​•Compare- To explain how two or more things are alike

•Contrast- To explain how two or more things are different

​

Multiple Choice

what does it mean to contrast things?

• look at differences

• look at similarities 

Multiple Choice

what does it mean to compare things?

• look at differences

• look at similarities

​How to compare/contrast two stories?

​•Pay close attention to the story elements.

•Story elements help us compare and contrast.

Multiple Choice

Passage 1

The Grumpy Dog

Not too long ago, one of the farmer's dogs had the good luck to be given a juicy bone. He decided to take it far from the farm yard to the edge of the woods. There, he would enjoy it by himself without sharing, for he was a grumpy, old dog.

Before long, he came a wooden bridge that crossed a clear, rushing stream. As the dog began to cross the bridge, he saw the image of a dog in the stream. He stopped to stare at the dog. He did not like it when the dog stared back at him. Gripping his precious bone in his teeth, he curled his lips back and growled. The dog in the stream growled.

Then, the grumpy, old dog said, "Well, I am not to be growled at. I'll take his bone and see how he growls then."

The grumpy, old dog opened his mouth to grab the bone he saw in the stream. The bone he held in his teeth fell. As soon as he heard the splish of it landing in the water, he understood. The dog in the stream was none other than him! He could only whimper as the stream carried his bone away.

Passage 2

The Greedy Dog

Once, a greedy dog found a juicy bone outside a city diner. He grabbed it at once and ran away to find a place to settle down and enjoy it in peace. He headed for the junk yard on the other side of the city.

On his way, he came to a deep ditch that was full of fresh, clear rain water. The water flowed loudly into drainpipes under the city streets. As the dog set his paw into the water to cross the ditch, he looked down and saw a dog with a bone that looked just like his. "Well, well," the greedy dog said to himself. "I'll have two bones for my meal."

The dog opened his mouth to snatch the bone he saw in the water. As he did so, his bone dropped into the ditch. The sound of the water seemed to grow louder as he watched the bone float away. "I was greedy, and now, I'm hungry," he whimpered. He turned and loped sadly back to the diner to wait for the cook to throw out another bone.

Which event happens in both stories?

• A dog wants to find a place to enjoy a bone.

• A dog buries his bone in the junkyard.

• A dog finds a bone outside a city diner.

• A dog loses the juicy bone he is given.

Multiple Choice

Passage 1

The Grasshopper and the Ant

One bright, summer day in the meadow, a grasshopper spent his time lying around singing. As he did, he watched an ant go back and forth to its hill with bits of corn and seeds.

"Ant, why do you work so hard on such a beautiful, sunny day? You should join me for some music and fun," the grasshopper said.

"Yes, today is beautiful, and it is warm. But winter will come, and music will not feed me. So I am getting ready. You should do the same," said the ant.

"Oh, you worry too much, Ant. There will be food when winter comes. You'll see," said the grasshopper.

"No, you will see, Grasshopper."

Weeks passed, and the grasshopper continued to lie around and sing while the ant continued to work. In time, the air grew cold, snow fell, and the grasshopper ran out of food. Just when he thought he might starve to death, he went to call on the ant.

Seeing the grasshopper at his door, the ant said, "Come in and I will give you food, Grasshopper. Then, when the warm days come again, may you sing songs to work by as you get ready for days such as this one."

Passage 2

A Lesson for the Grasshopper

On a hot summer day, a grasshopper lay in the shade of a great tree playing his fiddle as an ant passed by with a seed that was twice its size.

The grasshopper said, "How about some music to work by, Ant?" Then, he laughed and played a silly gig, making fun of the ant's hard work.

The ant replied, "If you are wise, you will join me in this work and gather food while you can. If not, you will learn a hard lesson when winter comes."

The grasshopper laughed and kept fiddling. The ant kept working.

Day after day, the ant worked while the grasshopper fiddled. Then, the winter winds came to the meadow.

The grasshopper soon ran out of food. At once, he went to see the ant, who opened his door and asked, "What song have you come to sing, now, Grasshopper?"

"I'm so hungry that I have no song left. Please feed me until the winds pass, and I'll work alongside you when the days are warm again."

Knowing the grasshopper had learned a lesson, the ant let him in. They enjoyed good food and good music for the rest of the winter.

How are the settings of the stories alike?

• The events in both stories happen during summer and winter in a meadow.

• The events in both stories happen during summer and spring in a meadow.

• The events in both stories happen during spring and winter in a forest.

• The events in both stories happen during summer and winter in a forest.

Multiple Choice

Passage 1

Fox and Stork

Fox met his neighbor Stork on the riverbank one morning. "Good to see you," he said with a sneaky grin. "Let's have lunch today." Stork agreed, and Fox went on his way, looking forward to the trick he had in mind.

Later, Stork arrived at Fox's down-river den with an empty stomach. She couldn't wait to taste the meal he had promised her. Fox led Stork to the dining room. Just inside, she stopped in her tracks.

Fox had served the soup in a flat plate! He ignored Stork's shock as she sat down to eat. He swallowed laughter by slurping and smacking his lips as loudly as he could, while poor Stork could only stick the tip of her bill into the soup.

Stork knew Fox had tricked her, but she kept calm. Then, she invited him to join her for dinner that evening.

With more trickery in mind, Fox arrived early. But that was fine by Stork, who seated him at once and served him. Fox stopped grinning.

Stork ate fish casserole from deep within a tall jar. She pretended not to notice that instead of eating, Fox could only lick the top of his jar.

Later, Stork led Fox to the door. "Come again," she teased. Fox left without answering or grinning.

Passage 2

Fox Learns a Lesson

One day near his home on the riverbank, the sneaky fox invited his neighbor the stork to have lunch at his den. The stork accepted the invitation. The fox went on his way with a huge grin and a trick on his mind.

Later, the hungry stork arrived at fox's den and settled down at once to eat. But anger crept over him as the fox set a fish-flavored broth on the table. It was served on shallow plates. The stork knew he had been tricked. He watched as the fox lapped up his own plate of the watery, but delicious, liquid without even looking up at him.

Soon, as the stork got up to leave, the fox said, "Oh, I'm so sorry you didn't like the soup."

"Oh, I liked it," answered the stork. "Join me for lunch tomorrow. You'll see."

The next day, the stork served a delicious stew—in a tall jar with a narrow opening. He watched the fox struggle to eat before giving him a fresh bowl of stew.

The fox ate knowing that he had just been taught a lesson.

How are the endings of the stories different?

• In one story, the stork is able to eat. In the other, the stork cannot eat.

• In one story, the stork tricks the fox. In the other, the stork does not trick the fox.

• In one story, the fox is able to eat. In the other, the fox cannot eat.

• In one story, the fox says he is sorry. In the other, the fox does not say he is sorry.