Which feature is typical of fables?

Fables are short stories that typically convey a moral lesson and often feature anthropomorphized animals, meaning that the animals are given human traits and behaviors. This storytelling technique allows listeners or readers to draw parallels between the behavior of the animals and human experiences, often leading to insights about morality or ethics. The simplicity of the narrative structure and the use of familiar animal characters make fables accessible and engaging, especially for children. This combination of a clear moral teaching with relatable characters is a distinctive hallmark of the fable genre.

In contrast, complex plots and many characters are more characteristic of longer narratives or fairy tales rather than the concise, focused nature of fables. Fables also do not typically include a focus on historical events or people, as they prioritize moral lessons over factual storytelling. Lastly, while fantasy elements may exist in fables, the description of elaborate fantasy worlds is not a defining feature; instead, fables tend to ground their stories in relatable, everyday situations that highlight moral lessons.