The Most Popular Fable, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the fable you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:36
In a world brimming with timeless tales that carry lessons through generations, it becomes intriguing to see which fables resonate the most today. Each story, with its unique blend of characters, morals, and drama, competes for a place in the hearts of audiences who find relevance and truth in their age-old narratives. Tracking the most adored ones provides a unique mirror reflecting our current values and lessons that strike a chord universally.
On this site, you have the power to cast your vote and affect the live rankings of these beloved fables. Your participation helps identify which stories continue to charm, educate, and inspire us, making an active contribution to a collective cultural snapshot. By voting, you are not just revisiting cherished memories but are also helping to shape the narrative of what fascinates us the most in our contemporary world.
What Is the Most Popular Fable?
-
167votesThis fable is known for its lesson of perseverance and slow and steady wins the race. It has been retold in various forms and is a popular children's story.The Tortoise and the Hare is a popular fable that tells the story of a race between a slow but steady tortoise and a fast but overconfident hare. The fable demonstrates the importance of perseverance and consistency.
- Genre: Fable
- Moral: Slow and steady wins the race
- Characters: Tortoise, Hare
- Setting: A racecourse
- Plot: A race between the tortoise and the hare
-
236votesThis fable teaches the importance of hard work and preparation, as the ant works hard to gather food for the winter while the grasshopper plays and eventually suffers.The Ant and the Grasshopper is a popular fable that teaches the importance of hard work and preparation. It tells the story of an ant and a grasshopper who have different approaches to life. The ant spends the summer gathering and storing food, while the grasshopper spends his time singing and enjoying himself. As winter arrives, the ant is well-prepared with enough food to survive, while the grasshopper is left hungry and regretful of his choices.
- Origin: Ancient Greece
- Moral: Importance of hard work and preparation
- Characters: Ant, Grasshopper
- Setting: Outdoors, during summer and winter
- Themes: Responsibility, Laziness, Planning
-
323votes
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
AesopThis fable warns against lying and the consequences of not being truthful, as the boy loses the trust of those around him when he repeatedly cries wolf.The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a popular fable that teaches the importance of honesty and the consequences of lying. It revolves around a young shepherd boy who repeatedly tricks the villagers into believing that a wolf is attacking his flock of sheep, only to confess that there was no actual danger. Eventually, when a real wolf comes to attack, the boy cries for help but nobody believes him, as they assume he is lying once again. The fable serves as a lesson in the importance of credibility and the consequences of dishonesty.- Type: Fable
- Origin: Ancient Greece
- Moral: Importance of honesty and credibility
- Main Characters: Young shepherd boy, Villagers, Wolf
- Setting: A village and a pasture
-
414votesThis fable teaches the importance of kindness and how even the smallest creatures can be of help to others. The mouse helps the lion when he is in trouble and later, the lion returns the favor.The Lion and the Mouse is a well-known fable that has been passed down through generations. It tells the story of a mighty lion who spares the life of a small mouse, and later, the mouse repays the favor by freeing the lion from a hunter's net. It highlights the importance of kindness and how even the smallest creatures can be of great help.
- Theme: Kindness and mutual aid
- Moral: Even the weak and small can provide assistance
- Characters: Lion, Mouse, and a Hunter
- Setting: Forest or jungle
- Plot: Lion saves Mouse, Mouse returns the favor
-
510votes
The Dog and the Bone
AesopThis fable warns against greed and the dangers of wanting more than what you already have. The dog loses his bone when he is too greedy and tries to grab another bone from the reflection in the water.The Dog and the Bone is a famous fable that tells the story of a dog who loses a precious bone due to its own greed and ultimately learns a valuable lesson.- Type: Fable
- Moral: Do not be greedy.
- Theme: Greed
- Characters: Dog
- Setting: Countryside
-
65votes
The Fox and the Grapes
AesopThis fable teaches the lesson of sour grapes and how people often criticize what they cannot have. The fox tries to reach the grapes but fails, and then says that they were probably sour anyway.The Fox and the Grapes is a popular fable that tells the story of a fox who tries to reach a bunch of grapes hanging from a vine but fails and then declares them as sour and undesirable.- Category: Fable
- Origin: Ancient Greece
- Moral: To despise what one cannot obtain
- Characters: Fox
- Themes: Sour grapes, disappointment
-
711votesThis fable warns against greed and the dangers of taking things for granted. The farmer becomes greedy and kills the goose, only to find that there are no more golden eggs.The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs is a popular fable that tells the story of a farmer who discovers a goose that lays golden eggs. The goose lays one golden egg every day, making the farmer incredibly wealthy. However, driven by greed, the farmer becomes impatient and decides to kill the goose in order to obtain all the golden eggs at once. To his shock and disappointment, he finds that the goose is just like any other goose and there are no more golden eggs.
- Genre: Fable
- Moral: Greed leads to loss
- Theme: Value of contentment
- Setting: Farm
- Characters: Farmer, Goose
-
85votes
Wenceslaus Hollar · Public domainThe Crow and the Pitcher
AesopThis fable teaches the lesson of resourcefulness and how one can use their ingenuity to solve problems. The crow uses stones to raise the water level in the pitcher to drink from it.The Crow and the Pitcher is a popular fable that tells the story of a thirsty crow and its clever way of obtaining water from a pitcher.- Genre: Fable
- Theme: Ingenuity
- Publication Date: Estimated to be around 6th century BCE
- Main Characters: Crow
- Setting: Somewhere near a pitcher or a water vessel
-
97votes
Joseph Jacobs · Public domainThis fable teaches the lesson of contentment and how one should be happy with what they have. The town mouse invites the country mouse to his home but the country mouse realizes that he is happier in his own simple home.The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse is a well-known fable that depicts the story of two mice who lead contrasting lives in urban and rural environments. The fable explores the themes of contentment, the grass-is-always-greener mentality, and the importance of appreciating what one has.- Genre: Fable
- Publication Year: 6th century BCE
- Setting: Urban and rural environments
- Main Characters: Town Mouse and Country Mouse
- Moral: Appreciating what one has
-
108votes
Richard Heighway · Public domainThe Wind and the Sun
AesopThis fable teaches the lesson of persuasion and how kindness can be more effective than force. The wind and the sun have a competition to see who can remove the coat of a traveler. The sun's warmth persuades the traveler to take off his coat, while the wind's force only makes him hold onto it tighter.The Wind and the Sun is a popular fable that teaches a moral lesson about the power of persuasion. The fable involves a competition between the wind and the sun to see who can remove a traveler's cloak. The story unfolds as both the wind and the sun take turns using their respective powers to make the traveler take off his cloak.- Moral Lesson: The gentle persuasion is often more effective than force.
- Theme: Power of Persuasion
- Setting: Outdoors, along a traveler's path
- Main Characters: The Wind, The Sun, and a Traveler
- Plot: Competition between the Wind and the Sun
Missing your favorite fable?
Graphs
Discussion
Ranking factors for popular fable
-
Cultural impactThe influence the fable has had on various cultures and societies over time. A popular fable is often deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of a culture and has managed to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.
-
TimelessnessThe ability of a fable to remain relevant and engaging across different time periods. A popular fable typically contains universal themes and lessons that continue to resonate with audiences as time goes on.
-
Moral lessonA key factor in the popularity of a fable is the moral or ethical lesson it imparts. The story should provide a clear and meaningful message that resonates with a broad range of readers or listeners.
-
AdaptabilityThe ability of a fable to be retold and adapted in various forms such as books, plays, movies, and animations. Popular fables inspire multiple adaptations and interpretations that continue to engage audiences in different ways.
-
MemorabilityThe degree to which the story and characters stick in the minds of readers or listeners. A popular fable typically has memorable characters, settings, and plotlines that make the story easy to recall and share.
-
AccessibilityA popular fable should have simple language and storytelling, making it easily understandable for all age groups. The story should be engaging and enjoyable for both adults and children.
-
DistinctivenessA popular fable needs to be unique and stand out from other similar stories. It should have features that make it easily recognizable and distinguished from other tales in its genre.
-
Emotional impactThe ability of a fable to evoke strong feelings and emotions in its readers or listeners. A popular fable effectively connects with its audience on an emotional level, helping them empathize with the characters and their plights.
-
Literary valueWell-crafted, skillful use of language, metaphor, and symbolism adds to the popularity of a fable. A highly regarded fable often has literary merit that lends it credibility and helps readers appreciate its themes more deeply.
-
Popularity over timeAn important factor in ranking a fable's popularity is its sustained appeal over generations of readers and listeners. A truly popular fable should have a proven track record of success and widespread appreciation across different eras and audiences.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular fable. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or fable is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1671 views
- 183 votes
- 10 ranked items
Movers & Shakers
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each fable once every 24 hours. The rank of each fable is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular fable
Fables have been a part of human storytelling for centuries. These short, fictional tales often feature animals or other creatures as characters and are designed to teach a moral lesson. While many fables have fallen out of favor over time, some have remained popular across cultures and generations.
One of the most well-known fables is Aesop's "The Tortoise and the Hare," which tells the story of a slow but steady tortoise who beats a quick but overconfident hare in a race. Other popular fables include "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," "The Ant and the Grasshopper," and "The Lion and the Mouse."
Despite their simple format, fables continue to captivate audiences young and old. Through their timeless messages and memorable characters, these stories continue to teach valuable lessons about honesty, perseverance, and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.
Explore other rankings
Check out some of the other recommended rankings on StrawPoll and make your voice heard.
