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A apologue It is a type of narrative that is written or related with the aim of transmitting a moral teaching. These stories arose in the East during the Middle Ages and have the same purpose as the legend but, unlike it, its characters are people (and not animals as in legends or fables).
- See also: Short Fables
Characteristics of the apologist
- They are usually written in prose.
- They are explanatory in nature and have a medium or extensive length.
- They do not use technical or formal language.
- They use stories that resemble real events.
- They are not fantastic stories but their facts are credible and everyday.
- Its objective is to leave a moral teaching and improve the self-knowledge and reflection of the reader or listener.
Examples of apologists
- The old man and the new room
The story tells that an old man had just been widowed when he arrived at the asylum, his new home. While the receptionist informed him about the comforts of his room and the view that he would have in that room, the old man remained for a few seconds with a blank look and then exclaimed: "I really like my new room."
Before the old man's comment, the receptionist said: "Sir, wait, in a few minutes I will show you your room. There you can evaluate if you like it or not." But the old man responded quickly: “That has nothing to do with it. No matter what my new room is like, I have already decreed that I will like my new room. Happiness is chosen in advance. Whether or not I like my room does not depend on the furniture or decoration, but on how I decide to see it. I have already decided that my new room will please me. That is a decision that I make every morning when I get up ”.
- The tourist and the wise man
In the last century a tourist went to visit Cairo in Egypt to meet the wise old man who lived there.
Upon entering his house, the tourist realized that there was no furniture, he lived in a very simple little room where there were only a few books, a table, a bed and a small bench.
The tourist was amazed by the scant possession of his goods. "Where is your furniture?" Asked the tourist. "And where are yours?", Replied the sage. "My furniture? But I'm just passing through," the tourist was even more astonished. "Me too," replied the sage, adding: "earthly life is only temporary, but many people live as if they were going to stay here forever and forget to be happy."
- The sultan and the peasant
The story goes that a sultan was leaving the borders of his palace when and when crossing the field he met an old man who was planting a palm tree. The Sultan said to him: "Oh, Old Man, how ignorant you are! Can't you see that it will take years for the palm tree to bear fruit and your life is already at sunset?" The old man looked at him kindly and said "Oh, Sultan! We planted and ate. Let us plant for them to eat." Faced with the wisdom of the old man, the Sultan, surprised, handed him some gold coins as a sign of gratitude. The old man bowed a little and then said, "Have you seen? How soon this palm tree has borne fruit!"
Follow with:
- Short stories
- Urban legends
- Horror legends
