Parable | Literary Term | English Literature | Major English | Plus Two Level
Parable
is a brief and often simple story that illustrates a moral or
spiritual lesson. As human beings, we respond more strongly to stories
than to arguments and theories. Our brains seem to be hard-wired to
think in terms of narratives, and parables usually affect us more deeply
than simple principles stated out loud.
For
example: Perhaps the most famous parable is that of the Boy Who Cried
Wolf. In it, a young boy enjoys yelling 'wolf' and laughing as the adults in
his village run around in a panic. But one day, he sees
an actual wolf, and cries out 'wolf' to try and get someone to save
him. But no one believes him anymore, and no one comes to help. This story is
extremely memorable for children, and seems to stick in our minds better than
the simple statement 'don’t lie'.
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