Parable
A parable is a short story, often simple and pointed, that teaches a moral, spiritual, or practical lesson through an implied comparison. In poetry, parables may appear as brief narrative poems or verse stories, with the lesson left for the reader to recognize rather than stated outright.
Unlike a fable, a parable usually uses human characters and realistic situations instead of talking animals or objects.
Example
A child carried two lamps home,
one bright with borrowed flame,
one small but lit from within.
The first blew out in the wind.
The second guided her on.
Matthew 7:24-27 (Worldwide English (New Testament))
24`Everyone who hears what I say and obeys me will be like a man who has good sense. He built his house on a rock.
25It rained hard. The water in the rivers came up high. The winds were strong and beat on the house. But it did not fall down. It was built on a rock.
26But everyone who hears what I say and does not obey me, will be like a man who has no sense. He built his house on the sand.
27It rained hard. The water in the rivers came up high. The winds were strong and beat on the house. It fell down with a loud noise!'
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Related Definitions
[n] a short moral story (often with animal characters)
[n] (New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message; "the parable of the prodigal son"
Related Terms
adventure story, allegory, apologue, bedtime story, comparison, detective story, fable, fabliau, fairy tale, fantasy, fiction, folk story, folktale, gest, ghost story, horse opera, legend, lesson, love story, Marchen, mystery, mystery story, myth, mytholo