“Fable” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

“Fable” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Summary: In "Fable," a mountain and a squirrel argue about their importance. The mountain claims it is greater because of its size, but the squirrel responds that, although small, it can do things the mountain cannot, like crack a nut. The poem’s message is that everyone has different abilities and roles, and each is important in their own way.

 Analysis: The poem highlights that everyone is valuable. The mountain represents power and size, while the squirrel symbolizes agility and individuality. Emerson emphasizes that no one should be judged by appearance or size. Instead, everyone should appreciate the unique contributions each brings to the world.

 Explanation of Important Lines:

 1. "Talents differ; all is well and wisely put"

 This means everyone has different skills, and these differences make the world balanced.

 2. "If I cannot carry forests on my back, Neither can you crack a nut"

 The squirrel points out that both large and small things have unique strengths.

 3. "And I think it no disgrace To occupy my place"

 The squirrel is proud of its role, showing that everyone’s place in the world is valuable.

 **Emerson’s "Fable" teaches that everyone, no matter their size or abilities, has a unique role. The poem encourages respecting differences and recognizing that all beings, big or small, are essential.

 Significance of the Title: The title "Fable" reflects the poem’s use of a simple story to convey a moral lesson. In this short dialogue between a mountain and a squirrel, the poem teaches that every being, regardless of size or strength, plays a valuable role in the world. The title emphasizes the poem’s structure as a light, instructive tale with a deeper meaning about equality and the importance of individual contributions.

 Questionnaire from ABTA Test Paper:

 Page: 210

1. What does the squirrel think about occupying his place?

Ans: The squirrel feels proud to occupy his place and believes that his role in the world is important, even though he is small.

2. What doesn’t the squirrel deny?

Ans: The squirrel doesn’t deny that the mountain is big and strong/powerful.

Page: 284

1. Who had a quarrel with the squirrel and why?

Ans: The Mountain had a quarrel with the squirrel because it mocked the squirrel’s small size, suggesting that it was insignificant.

2. What are the things that make up a year?

Ans: Different things like various weather conditions and seasons come together to make up a year.

Page: 430

1. Who was called ‘little prig’ and by whom?

Ans: The squirrel, named Bun, was called a "little prig" by the mountain.

 2. What is not denied by the squirrel?

Ans: The squirrel does not deny that the mountain is large and powerful.

 Page: 453

 1. In which aspect do the mountain and the squirrel differ?

Ans: The Mountain is big and strong, while the squirrel is small but agile and capable of tasks the mountain cannot do.

 2. What is not disgrace to the squirrel?

Ans: It is not a disgrace for the squirrel to be small because it recognizes its unique abilities, like cracking nuts.

 Page: 667

 1. What is that the squirrel does not deny?

Ans: The squirrel does not deny that the mountain is big and powerful.

 2. What is not disgrace to the squirrel?

Ans: The squirrel does not find it disgraceful to be small, as it values its own abilities.

 Page: 717

 1. Why is it not a disgraceful act to the squirrel to occupy his place?

Ans: It is not disgraceful because the squirrel believes everyone has a unique role, and being small is not a flaw but a strength.

 2. How do talents differ?

Ans: Talents differ because every creature has its own special abilities, and these differences are what make the world balanced.

Page: 777

 1. What moral does the fable convey?

Ans: The moral of the fable is that every being, regardless of size or strength, plays a valuable role in the world.

 2. What does the mountain boast of?

Ans: The Mountain boasts of its large size and strength, implying that it is more important than the squirrel.

 Page: 979

 1. What is it that the squirrel doesn’t deny?

Ans: The squirrel doesn’t deny that the mountain is big and strong.

2. What is the squirrel’s opinion about the talent?

Ans: The squirrel believes that talents differ, and everyone has their own strengths, which makes each creature valuable in its own way.

 

Additional Questions:

1. How does the mountain make fun of the squirrel?

The mountain mocks the squirrel for being small and insignificant compared to its massive size, suggesting that the squirrel is not important.

2. Mention two qualities of the mountain.

The mountain is large and immovable, symbolizing strength and stability.

 

3. "But all sorts of things and weather. / Must be taken in together. / To make up a year / And a sphere" - Explain the idea contained in these lines.

The squirrel is saying that just like different weather and seasons come together to make a full year, different creatures and abilities combine to make the world complete.

 

4. What doesn't the squirrel deny?

The squirrel doesn’t deny that the mountain is big and strong, acknowledging its size and power.

 

5. What is not a disgrace to the squirrel and why?

The squirrel doesn’t feel it’s a disgrace to be small because it knows it has unique abilities, like cracking nuts that the mountain cannot do.

 

6. Who is Bun and what does the word 'prig' mean?

Bun is the name of the squirrel. The word ‘prig’ means someone who is self-righteous or overly proud of their moral superiority.

 

7. What is the squirrel's opinion regarding 'talents'?

The squirrel believes that talents differ among all creatures, and everyone has their own unique strengths, making each equally important.

 

8. In what way was the squirrel ahead of the mountain?

The squirrel is ahead of the mountain because it can perform tasks the mountain cannot, such as cracking nuts and being agile.

 

9. Why do you think, the mountain and the squirrel had a quarrel?

The quarrel happened because the mountain looked down on the squirrel, thinking its size made it more important, while the squirrel argued that size alone doesn’t define value.

 

10. What is a ‘fable’?

A fable is a short story having generally animals as characters and conveying a moral lesson at the end.

 

11. Why is the poem entitled ‘Fable’? /Signify the title of the poem.

The title emphasizes the poem’s structure as a light, instructive tale with a deeper meaning about equality and the importance of individual contributions.

 

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