A fable is a story in which________?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the defining feature of a fable, which is a basic literary term.

Step 2: Explain the concept A fable is a short story, usually with a moral lesson, in which animals, plants, or non-human things act and speak like human beings. The characters stand for human traits. The tortoise often represents cunning and the lion represents power. Fables usually end with a clear moral. Examples include the tortoise stories in Nigerian folktales and Aesop's fables, such as The Hare and the Tortoise.

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. Allegations are made about characters. This is wrong. An allegation is an accusation, which has nothing to do with the definition of a fable. (You may be thinking of allegory, which is a different term.)
• B. Animals or things are used as characters. This is correct. It is the defining feature of a fable.
• C. There is an important setting. This is wrong. Setting matters in many kinds of stories and does not define a fable.
• D. The story is told in poetic form. This is wrong. Most fables are told in prose, though some are written in verse. Poetic form is not what makes a story a fable.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is B.

Tip: Think "Fable = Fur and Feathers (animals) + Final lesson (moral)." If an option mentions animals or non-human characters behaving like humans, it is almost always the answer to a fable question. Don't confuse fable with allegory, parable, or myth.