Introduction
Since our childhood, we all have heard stories from our parents and grandparents, the best part of the day. Creating a storyline and making it feel like it's a real one isn't an easy job!. Stories from around the arena had been passed from one era to another era, through spoken word, teaching, and pleasing people for centuries.
Myths and fables are examples of stories that were once passed down orally but are now also written down. They cover all the topics, from explaining the natural world and imparting life lessons to exaggerating historical events. What all things they have in common, though, is their ability to last as both entertainment and educational instruments.
Fables are shortened stories in which animals (actual or legendary) are specified with human-like features to teach a moral or lesson. Many Fables have their origins in oral tradition that can be found in nearly every culture, but Aesop, the Greek slave who lived around 560 BC, is the most famous 'writer' of these fables. Of course, many people differ on whether he wrote all, or just some, of the Fables we now call "Aesop's Fables."
Myths are the stories from all cultures and religions that have been used to explain natural occurrences and provide answers to most of the concerns about the human condition for centuries, such as the origin of living and creation stories, stories about life, death, and life after death. It's about the big picture.
Are mythology, fables, and fairy tales still essential in today's society? For a long time, myths, folktales, and Fables have taught our civilization a lot of distinct features. Because they have been around the world for so long, many of these stories are parodies. These stories, for example, can be dramatized while still imparting a moral lesson, and can even be transformed into poetry. Even if we don't employ myths, fables, folktales, and fairy tales to their full potential, they are still significant in our society.
Some Myths, fables are centered on violence rather than good, which might lead us down the wrong way in our society if people believe the story or "lesson" They think it will benefit them.
Both of these, fables and myths are enjoyable, lovable, and knowledgeable in their respective ways.
Myth vs. Fables
To shed light on the main difference between the myth and the fables is that the myths are the stories of superhumans, god, and goddesses. Myths, in general, are related to something very unnatural or supernatural aspect that isn't related to the real-world scenario. And most of the time, it's only related to religious mythology, whereas Fables- are shortened fiction stories that have a moral at the end of the story. Also, the fables are nothing but false stories based on false scenarios. Myths are the stories that should have a reason for the story to be true or false, or else, if it is not stated that it is False, the people will believe that it's true.
Myths are created by the personification of objects and forces that ancient people revered. They symbolized phenomena such as fire (Apollo), water (Poseidon), and feelings of love (Aphrodite).
A myth is a story that admits being faithful or existent, whereas a Fable is something that admits being untrue, unrealistic, or fictional. Fables are stories about animals or phenomena that have been given human characteristics and are intended to teach a moral value lesson. Fables, and myths, can be found in almost every culture on the planet.
Fables were and, are still used to teach public speaking and literary creation to pupils in ancient Greece and Rome. "ArabicNights", "The Tortoise", and "The Hare" are some of the stories. Fable word is acquired from the words "fair," which means "to speak," and the suffix "ula," which means "small." As a result, a fable is a short story that could be passed on orally. Every civilization has its version of the origins of the planet. They are strongly linked to religion and serve as the foundation for social traditions and taboos. They explain how the cosmos came into being and how individuals should behave in specific situations.
Difference Between Myth and Fables in Tabular Form
| Criteria of comparison | Myth | Fable |
| Meaning | Myths are the type of stories that are based on superhumans, god, and goddesses. | Fables are false short stories that can be about anything. |
| Words Origination | Originated from the Greek word ‘Mythos'. | Originated from the Latin word ‘Fabula'. |
| Types | Myths can either be fictional or non-fictional. Being a non-fictional one it has to satisfy the story with proof. | Fable is nothing but is fictional, that is, it’s a false story. |
| Moral of the story | Myths may or may not have a moral to learn from the story. | Fable always has a lesson to be learned from the story. |
| Passed on | Myth passed on from one era to another (to the younger generation from the older generation) | Fables are also passed on from generation to generation and are still used. |
What is a Myth?
Myths are stories that have been passed on from one generation to another generation. Most of them are based on true events, while others are entirely made up. Myths are usually the type of stories that includes superhumans, supernatural powers, gods, demigods, such other kind of entities. Myths are more than just stories; they have a deeper meaning context in both ancient and modern societies. At times Myths are the holy stories that are explained by the universe and human interface. They are just as significant today as they were in ancient times. Myths give answers to prominent issues that are here in the world from age-old and act as a compass for the coming generations. For example, Lost paradise is a tale that gives people hope that they can lead on to a better life in the afterlife.
Myths can differ from one region to another region and from one individual to another individual. Since myths are the personal beliefs that have been passed on from one era to another.
Many individuals in the world accept myths although it has less evidence and then they try to pass them down to their children and grandchildren. Every civilization will have a tale of its own to tell about how their gods were created and how they'd created the universe. They are fascinating to hear and to be read out to the children so that they can learn new topics. Myths have extensive knowledge for one's culture and gods, however dependent on the number of other factors as well.
In simple words, for certain reasons, myths are also prevalent in advertising. Advertising employs put visual metaphors to communicate with us in a variety of ways, from movies to vehicles to fragrances. While the artists of every generation rewrite stories, mythology has followed the same basic principles for thousands of years. To individuals who have been adapting these tales since infancy, a name, word, or image based on a known myth.
Every community has had its share of myths. Nevertheless, it appears to be a fundamental component of society. It's impossible to generalize the nature of myths because there's so much variability. However, people's myths showcase and explore the people's image based on themself in both its qualities and details. As a result, mythology is crucial to understanding both particular communities and society as a whole.
What are fables?
Fables are shortened stories that always have a moral to teach after the story. For example, maximum mankind must have heard the story of "the lier shepherd boy", it is a fable as at the end of this story, we can learn a moral value lesson. Fables are mostly made up for the children as after hearing the fable moral stories, children get acquainted with what mistakes they are not supposed to do in their lives.
Fables, like some of the myths, have characters that are animals or natural phenomena. Unlike myths, however, fables end up with a clear moral lesson, emphasizing the defining quality of fables: they are instructive stories that will always leave a lesson that can be learned by humans and society.
Fables are generally entertaining to listen to because they are brief and intended for children. Animals, creatures, and natural things are the major characters of fables, and they usually teach a lesson that is morally and ethically correct in the real-life world. Fables can also contain kings, queens, and many other characters and can be found in a variety of societies and cultural setups.
Nowadays, stories are shared from the perspective to entertain people, and you'll find that the majority of them contain a lesson to be taught. Not only do children enjoy listening to stories, but many adults as well enjoy the fables. Manifesting stories can be calming at times, and some stories can be beneficial to listen to because they contain values or educational enlightenment.
The fables has come up with much more new interested people in the 19th century when the rise of children's literature took place.
In India, the fables came much back to the 5th century BC. The Panchatantra is a famous Sanskrit compilation that has become the favorite fable of almost every child. The Panchatantra has been read by nearly everyone in their childhood.
Four key necessary aspects define fables:
- Symbolism: Fable characters are friendly and their escapades are designed to represent human behavior.
- Anthropomorphization: Animals and other characters that are there in the fable, also the inanimate objects are central characters in the fable are given human-like characteristics. Some characters have characteristics that are unique to them. For example, let us consider an owl is knowledgeable, and aloin is courageous.
- Lessons: Every fable concludes with a lesson derived from the story. For example- slow and steady wins the race is the most famous quote from a fable.
- Humor: Fables are frequently hilarious, possess human nature.
Main Differences between Fables and Myth (in Points)
- A myth is a story about superheroes, and gods and how they came to this world, whereas a fable is a story about animals, and many other characters, objects, and natural phenomena that are intended to teach a lesson that is morally and ethically correct.
- Fables are personifications of animals, things, and natural phenomena meant to teach a lesson, whereas myths are strongly tied to religion and personify things and natural forces that were regarded as gods by ancient people.
- Myths are believed to be actual stories, whereas fables are mostly believed to be fictional or false ones.
- Both the myth and fables are passed orally from children to their children, with myths serving as legends about how a particular order of people came to exist and fables give us the models of how people should behave.
Conclusion
Myths, on the other hand, are more than just stories; they have a deeper meaning In both the societies, modern as well as ancient. Myths are the holy stories that describe us the world and human occurrence. Myths are important today as they were in ancient times.
Listening to stories, whether true or false, is highly calming since it is impossible to enjoy listening to stories if the storyteller cannot hold your attention. Adults, as well as children, like hearing stories, and some are not appropriate for children. Because they have cultural values to tell and can also have instructional substance, most stories are enjoyable and engaging. There are numerous lessons that teach so much about the culture, life, etc. People still read all the myths and fables, as they are often conveying timeless and universal themes based on cultural grounds. These stories provide insight into how these individuals lived and the civilizations in which they had survived. As a matter of fact, myths and fables might reveal what we do not know or is different about it, at the time when these stories were been created and after they have been created.
References
- https://core.ac.uk/download/78301079.pdf
- https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-fable-folktale-myth-legend-differences-and-examples.html
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/myth/Relation-of-myths-to-other-narrative-forms
