He begins by stating that fables are a form of truth telling. They enable the storyteller to convey truth to the reader without saying it bluntly and offending them.
Andersen then describes how the storytellers “[hold] a magic mirror before the people, in which all sorts of animals and various wondrous things [appear], producing amusing as well as instructive pictures.” The mirror allows readers to see the various animals and subsequently imagine themselves in the animals’ places.
If the animals act foolishly or wickedly, the people can imagine themselves making the same foolish or wicked mistakes and change their actions. Likewise, if the animals act bravely or wisely, readers can imagine themselves taking on the same admirable qualities.
A Fable for You
After revealing the storyteller’s secret, Andersen proceeds to tell a fable of his own. This fable follows a very hungry dog who searches for a good meal.The dog stands between two tall mountains, with a castle atop each. While the dog looks for food, a trumpet sounds from one of the castles, signaling dinner time. Excited, the dog quickly starts heading up one of the mountains.
When the dog is halfway up, the trumpet ceases to sound and a trumpet from the second castle begins to sound for dinner time. The dog decides that, by the time he gets to the first castle, dinner will probably be over, so he heads back down the mountainside and begins climbing the second mountain.
As he gets halfway up the second mountain, the trumpet at the first castle resumes its call for dinner and the trumpet at the second castle ceases. The dog hurries back down the mountain with eager steps towards the first castle.
Up and down he goes, from mountain to mountain, never reaching either castle. Finally, after all his running, both trumpets cease and dinner at both castles ends.
Andersen ends this fairy tale by leaving it open-ended. In this way, he presents his tale as intended for the reader, encouraging the reader to join in the tale and discover the truth within it.
Through this fairy tale, children learn how a storyteller tells tales to teach truths. They also see the methods that storytellers utilize to make truth more palatable and pleasing. This is a wonderful way that children can begin to understand the need to live a life of purpose and meaning.
