From the Latin sparsus, meaning âscattered,â we get the adjective sparse, which means âfew and scattered.â Thinning hair is sparse, as is the population of an endangered species. Or a small and scattered crowd for an unpopular band. Synonyms include dispersed, infrequent, and scanty.
The purpose of the fable is to teach a lesson about a human weakness or folly. To reinforce this lesson, fables usually include a moral at the end of the tale. In addition to teaching a lesson, fables offer a satirical look at human beings and their behaviors.he purpose of the fable is to teach a lesson about a human weakness or folly. To reinforce this lesson, fables usually include a moral at the end of the tale. In addition to teaching a lesson, fables offer a satirical look at human beings and their behaviors.
Definition. A fable is a fictional narrative meant to teach a moral lesson. The characters in a fable are usually animals whose words and actions reflect human behavior. A form of folk literature, the fable is also one of the progymnasmata. Some of the best known fables are those attributed to Aesop, a slave who lived in Greece in the sixth century BC. (See Examples and Observations below.) A popular modern fable is George Orwell's Animal Farm (1945). Also see: 1  Exemplum.