Fable vs. Parable — What's the Difference?

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

A story meant to illuminate complex truths.

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

A narrative using human characters to convey ethical principles.

A narrative using animals to illustrate human traits or conduct.

A symbolic tale open to interpretation.

A literary device for cautionary or instructive purposes.

A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, whereas parables have human characters.

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.

To represent by parable.

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

A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels

A story about legendary persons and exploits.

A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson.

A falsehood; a lie.

A short narrative illustrating a lesson (usually religious/moral) by comparison or analogy.

To recount as if true.

(transitive) To represent by parable.

To compose fables.

(obsolete) That can easily be prepared or procured; obtainable.

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

Procurable.

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

A comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious narrative of something which might really occur in life or nature, by means of which a moral is drawn; as, the parables of Christ.

Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

A short moral story (often with animal characters)

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

(New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message;

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 tool for teaching moral or spiritual lessons.

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.

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

A short story featuring non-human characters to teach a moral lesson.

A fictional tale often concluding with a stated moral.

A story using metaphorical elements to impart wisdom.

A parable is a simple story illustrating a moral or religious principle.

Fables typically feature animals, plants, or inanimate objects, although they can occasionally have human characters.

Fables often conclude with a clearly stated moral.

Parables often emphasize complex moral or religious principles.

Fables are common in folklore and children’s literature.

There is no standard verb form for "fable."

Parables are often found in religious texts like the Bible.

A fable is a short story often featuring animals that teaches a moral lesson.

Fables usually impart moral or practical lessons.

Parables often employ realistic situations to make their point.

Parables generally feature human characters and are less likely to include animals.

"Parabolize" could be considered a rare verb form for "parable."

Aesop is one of the most famous fable writers.

Yes, parables usually leave room for interpretation.

Fables often use characters as metaphors for human traits or behaviors.