Class: X > Fable > Textual Questions and Answers

Fable---by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Summary: "Fable" Is a poem written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. A "fable" is a short tale to teach a lesson. A "prig" is someone who is self-righteous. In this tale, Emerson tells us not to Judge others.and try to understand that people unlike us also have qualities that we don't have. For example, the mountain may be able to carry forests on his back but he can't crack a nut like a squirrel. Moreover, everything in this world has its importance and has a reason for its existence. "Fable" is written as one stanza with nineteen lines. The rhyme scheme is AABCBDDEEFFGHHIJKA. Thus we can see, all the lines are not rhymed properly. This is Emerson's way to put importance on a line and change the rhythm to change the emotion.

1. What is a fable?

A fable is a short story, basically with irrational animals as characters, conveying a moral.

2. Why is the present poem "Fable" named so?

I think the poem "Fable" bears the moral that every being in this world has its reason for existence and that is why it is named so.

3. What is personification?

Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings.

4. What Are a Figures of speech that uses a language?

A Figure of speech is a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect. / A Figures of speech can be defined as a saying of one thing in terms of something else.

5. What is the theme/message/central idea/moral of the poem?

The poem conveys the message that every being in this world has its place and has a special reason for its existence.

6. Which figure of speech used by the poet to describe the activity of the Squirrel and the Mountain?

The figure of speech, personification, is used by the poet to describe the activities of o.the Mountain. 7. What does the Squirrel reply being hurt/insulted by the Mountain?

Being insulted by the Mountain, the Squirrel replied that this world is consisted of every being however tiny like the Squirrel or vast like the mountain and therefore, every being is important.

8. Why does the Mountain call the Squirrel 'Little Prig'?

In this poem, the Mountain considers the Squirrel as a prig that always teaches others about morality to justify its place and the reason for existence.

9. What is the tough job which is performed by the mountain?

The job of carrying forest or its back.is considered to be a tough job performed by the Mountain.

10. How or what does a year or a sphere comprise?

A year or a sphere comprises of all sorts of things and weather.

11. In which way does the Squirrel think himself superior to that of the Mountain?

The Squirrel is much more energetic than that of the Mountain and which is more, the Squirrel, unlike the mountain, can crack a nut.

12. What is the Squirrel's conception about the talents?

Or, How does the Squirrel view the talent?

According to the Squirrel, every being in this world is individually talented with different abilities and these talents are wisely a significantly suggested their importance of existence.

13. How does the squirrel show his gratitude to the Mountain?

The Squirrel shows his gratitude to the Mountain by admitting that this later made a very pretty track for him.

14. What attitude of the Mountain do you perceive going through the poem?

The Mountain calls the Squirrel a Little Prig and thereby reveals own pride in existing with a gigantic structure.