Fable vs. Folktale — What's the Difference?

A short narrative designed to teach a moral lesson.

May or may not include a moral lesson.

Didactic in nature, aiming to educate.

Reflects cultural norms or traditions.

Often features anthropomorphized animals or objects.

A story passed down through generations, often orally.

Usually simple and concise.

Can feature humans, animals, or supernatural elements.

A genre of literature focused on moral teachings.

Often evolves over time and varies by region.

Fable is a literary genre: a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized, and that illustrates or leads to a particular moral lesson (a "moral"), which may at the end be added explicitly as a concise maxim or saying. A fable differs from a parable in that the latter excludes animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as actors that assume speech or other powers of humankind.

A story or legend forming part of an oral tradition.

A usually short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like humans.

A tale or story that is part of the oral tradition of a people or a place.

A story about legendary persons and exploits.

A tale circulated by word of mouth among the common folk, especially one forming part of the tradition of a culture.

A falsehood; a lie.

A tale circulated by word of mouth among the common folk

To recount as if true.

To compose fables.

A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.

Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.

Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.

To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.

To make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.

A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. See the Note under Apologue.

The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.

Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.

Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.

To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.

A deliberately false or improbable account

A short moral story (often with animal characters)

A story about mythical or supernatural beings or events

Fables are generally short and concise to quickly convey a moral lesson.

A Fable is a short story that teaches a moral lesson, often featuring animals as characters.

While many fables feature animals, it's not a strict requirement.

No, Folktales may or may not teach a moral lesson.

Folktales are often passed down orally through generations.

Yes, Folktales can evolve and adapt over time.

Parable is another term that often means a similar kind of moral story.

A Folktale is a traditional story passed down through generations that reflects cultural norms or traditions.

While they serve different purposes, some stories might be considered both a Fable and a Folktale depending on the context.

Folktales can vary in length, from short stories to long epics.

Fables can be written by anyone but are often attributed to known authors like Aesop.

While often aimed at children, the moral lessons in Fables can apply to adults as well.

Folktales are generally not based on real events but may incorporate some elements of truth.

Many fables end with a clearly stated moral, but it's not a strict requirement.

Legend or myth can be similar in nature to a Folktale, depending on the story.