Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tale, ‘This Fable Is Intended for You’

The author shows how fairy tales teach important life lessons by telling one about a hungry dog.
Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tale, ‘This Fable Is Intended for You’
“Dog From Ornans,” by Gustave Courbet. Hans Christian Anderson tells a story about a hungry dog in this fable. Public Domain
Kate Vidimos
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In his fairy tale “This Fable is Intended for You,” Hans Christian Andersen welcomes the reader into the author’s world. He does so by presenting the storyteller’s methods and subsequently giving the reader a fable.

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.

Kate Vidimos
Kate Vidimos
Author
Kate Vidimos holds a bachelor's in English from the liberal arts college at the University of Dallas and is currently working on finishing and illustrating a children’s book.