We have learned over the course of this semester that fables represent the

values and beliefs of the culture for which they were written. All of the fables we
have looked at so far, however, are European in origin. The question, then, is
how fables work in other cultures. Literary research clearly demonstrates that all
cultures have fables, but that what is seen as important does vary from culture to
culture. In other words, a cultural value that may be very important for someone
from Germany may not be important at all for someone from Australia.
This type of paper is often referred to as personal context. This refers to
what you bring with you to a text. This paper, then, involves analyzing yourself
(and your culture) as a reader. How, for example, do the values and beliefs of
your culture (and, therefore, yourself) affect what you read in a book or see in a
movie? How do your own doubts, experiences, sex, family background, etc.
affect how you see things? In this essay you will write about how your culture
(and yourself) is reflected in what you choose to read.
For this essay you will have two options to choose from. Both possibilities
involve taking a fable from your own culture and explaining it. This paper
assumes that you are all experts on yourself and your own culture, so there is
no expectation, nor desire on my part, that you will do outside research.
Option 1: Analyze a fable Option 2: Write your own
In this option you will need to find a
fable that represents your own culture and
then analyze this fable to show how it is
representative of your own culture.
You may use any fable that is not the
same as one we have used in class. In
addition, if the fable you choose is not
already in English, you must translate the
fable to English so that I can read it as well.
For this option you must thoroughly
analyze how the fable represents your own
culture and relate it to your own life as
well. For example, when you read the
fable how do you connect with it and
why?
If you choose option two you will write
a fable of your own. This fable must
represent what you believe to be key
elements of your own society.
When your audience reads this fable
they should be able to get a clear idea of
what a few of the important values and
beliefs of your culture are.
The fable you write should, of course, be
entertaining, but it is crucial that it does
accurately reflect your culture.
After you write your fable you should
then briefly also describe how your fable
does reflect your culture. To do this you
will want to make specific references to
your own work.
Page requirements Page requirements
4 pages Fable plus approximately 1.5 pages of
analysis