Which term describes a story featuring animals acting with human-like traits to teach a lesson?

• A. Fables
• B. Parables
• C. Legends
• D. Myths

Answer: (A)

Stories that use animals acting with human traits to teach a lesson are fables. The key idea is anthropomorphism—animals speaking and behaving like people to illustrate behavior and ethics. Fables are usually short and end with a clear moral, such as a lesson about honesty, perseverance, or cleverness, often presented directly. Classic examples come from Aesop’s fables, where the animal characters’ actions lead to outcomes that make the lesson obvious.

Parables, in contrast, center on human characters and convey moral or spiritual lessons. Legends focus on heroic or legendary figures and cultural traditions, while myths explain origins or natural phenomena and involve gods or mythical beings. The animal-centered, lesson-driven format described here points to fables as the best fit.