Question bank: Textual Genre: Fables, Myths, and Legends

Read the following excerpt: 'Once upon a time, there was a lion who lived in the forest. He was very vain and thought he was the king of the animals.' Based on the genre of the text, choose the alternative that correctly identifies the verbal tense used and the author's intended effect.

Read an excerpt from one of Aesop's fables: 'A skeletal wolf, so thin that it was, spied from the woods a fat and glossy dog that happened to be passing by. The wolf, seeing that the dog was well-fed, approached and, with a trembling and mournful voice, said: 'How I wish I were like you, dog! So full of health and so well-nourished!'. The dog, who recognized the wolf by his disguise and knew he was a cunning enemy, replied: 'If you want, wolf, you can have my health and my food. All you need to do is come live with me, serving my master and guarding the house. In return, you will have the food that I drop from the table and a warm bed to sleep in'. The wolf, seeing the trap, quickly backed away, saying: 'I prefer to be thin and free than fat and a slave'. Based on the presented fable, write a text addressing: 1. The typical characteristics of fables, comparing them to those of a myth of your choice. 2. The moral lesson contained in Aesop's fable and its relevance in shaping children's values and attitudes. Select a myth that, in your opinion, may have a similar moral lesson and discuss how this lesson manifests in the chosen myth.

Read the following excerpt, taken from a fable, and answer the question posed. 'A small mouse, who lived in fear of a cat, was seeking a way to protect himself. He had the idea of tying a bell around the cat's neck, so he would always know when he was nearby. The mouse shared his idea with the other mice in the community, and everyone thought it was excellent. However, an older and wiser mouse questioned: 'The idea is really good, but who will have the courage to put the bell on the cat?'

During the classes on textual genres, we studied fables, myths, and legends, each with their own distinctive characteristics that differentiate them from each other. Based on this knowledge, answer: 1) What are the main differences between fables, myths, and legends? 2) Choose a fable, a myth, and a legend and explain succinctly the plot of each and the moral or message that each story conveys. 3) Comment on how cohesive resources and lexical choice influence the construction and understanding of these textual genres.

Identify and classify the following passage as a fable, a myth, or a legend: 'In a distant forest, the animals lived in harmony until a great drought threatened them all. The Lion, the king of the forest, called for an assembly to find a solution. The Cricket, a small and wise insect, proposed that each animal give a little water from their reservoir to form a communal lake. Everyone agreed and the forest was saved.' Briefly explain the characteristics that allow the identification of the text as the textual genre you classified.