Table of Contents
About The Poet
About The Poem
Characters In The Poem
The Poem : Text
Important Word-notes
What We Learn From The Poem
About The Poet
Ralph Waldo Emerson [May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882] was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. Emerson, a champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society, disseminated his thoughts through dozens of published essays and more than 1,500 public lectures across the United States.
His first two collections of essays, Essays: First Series (1841) and Essays: Second Series (1844), represent the core of his thinking. They include the well-known essays “Self-Reliance”, “The Over-Soul”, “Circles”, “The Poet”, and “Experience.” Together with “Nature”, all these essays made Emerson’s most fertile period from the mid-1830s to the mid-1840s. His famous poems include “Concord Hymn”, and “Brahma”. In 1867, he was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society. Emerson died in 1882 on April 27 at 78 years in Concord, Massachusetts.
About The Poem
Emerson’s “Fable” published in 1847 is a short-poem with a great message portrayed in a very simple way. Normally the poem centres round a conversation between a squirrel and a mountain. Through the voice of the squirrel, the poet gives his grave message to us that in this world every being, living or non-living, big or small, have their own individual reasons for existence. We should not judge others by their appearances, but to recognise and appreciate their qualities which we lack of.
Characters In The Poem
Only two characters in the poem are–
The Mountain
Undoubtedly very big in size, the mountain is proud of its largesse. It mocks the squirrel for its self-righteous attitude and calls it ‘Little Prig’.
The Squirrel
Though little in size, the squirrel clearly points out the truth to the mountain that he is much more lively and energetic than him, because he is not ashamed of occupying his place in this world. He believes that everything in this world has a unique place and purpose to serve. So, he does not feel inferior or disgraceful for being small in size.
The Poem : Fable : Text
The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel;
And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig.’
Bun replied,
‘You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year
And a sphere.
And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I’m not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I’ll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.’
Important Word-notes
fable (n.) : a short-story on animals only with a moral lesson
quarrel (n.) : an angry dispute
former (n.) : referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned; here ‘the former’ refers to the mountain
latter (n.) : referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned; here ‘the latter’ refers to the squirrel
prig (n.) : one who has pretensions to high social status and looks down on people they think beneath them; one who puts on an appearance of being morally correct
Bun (n.) : here in this poem the name of the squirrel
doubtless (adv.) : without any doubt, undoubtedly
all sorts of (phrase of sort) : all kinds or types of
weather (n.) : atmospheric condition or conditions in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
make up (phrasal v.) : form, compose or constitute
sphere (n.) : a particular environment
disgrace (n.) : a state of dishonor; shame
occupy (v.) : take up all the available space; fill
spry (adj.) : moving quickly and lightly with full of life and energy; fully active
deny (v.) : refuse to accept or believe
pretty (adj.) : very pleasing to the eye; fair
track (n.) : path
talents (n. pl. of talent) : natural qualities
well (adj.) : good
wisely (adv.) : in a wise manner; sagely
carry (v.) : take
neither (adj.) : not one or the other; not either
crack (v.) : break
nut (n.) : a hard-shelled seed consisting of an edible kernel or meat enclosed in a woody or leathery shell; edible nut
Abbreviations Used For Word-notes
n. = noun (in singular form)
v. = verb (base or present form)
adj. = adjective
adv. = adverb
n. pl. = noun in plural form
What We Learn From The Poem
The poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, through his poem, “Fable”
[I] tells us that in this world, every being, animate or inanimate, have their own individual reasons for existence, every single being has a significant role to play in this vast universe,
[II] suggests us that we should not judge others by their physical appearances, instead we should recognise and appreciate their talents which we lack of.
