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What is the difference between fiction and fable?

fiction | fable |

As nouns the difference between fiction and fable

is that fiction is literary type using invented or imaginative writing, instead of real facts, usually written as prose while fable is a fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, birds etc as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.

As a verb fable is

to compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.

fiction

English

(wikipedia fiction)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Literary type using invented or imaginative writing, instead of real facts, usually written as prose.
    • The company’s accounts contained a number of blatant fictions .
    I am a great reader of fiction .
  • (uncountable) Invention.
    • The butler’s account of the crime was pure fiction .

    Synonyms

    * fabrication * figment

    Antonyms

    * documentary * fact * non-fiction

    Derived terms

    * non-fiction * science fiction * speculative fiction * fiction section

    Related terms

    * fictitious * fictional

    External links

    * * * ----

    fable

    English

    (wikipedia fable)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, birds etc as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, .
  • Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
  • * 4:7,
    • Old wives' fables .
  • * ,
    • We grew / The fable of the city where we dwelt.
  • Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
  • * ,
    • It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods.
  • The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
  • * Dryden
    • The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he contrives such a design or fable as may be most suitable to the moral.

    Synonyms

    * (fiction to enforce a useful precept) morality play * (story to excite wonder) legend * (falsehood)

    Verb

    (fabl)
  • (archaic) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.
  • * Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI , IV-ii:
    • He Fables not.
  • * :
    • Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.
  • * :
    • He fables , yet speaks truth.
  • (archaic) To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
  • * :
    • The hell thou fablest .

    References

    * (Webster 1913) ----