Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

Which type of literary work is characterized by a brief story with a moral lesson often featuring animal characters?

1. Fable

2. Homily

3. Drama

4. Poetry

The correct answer is: Fable

A fable is characterized by a brief story that typically conveys a moral lesson, often featuring anthropomorphized animal characters. These stories are designed to teach ethical or moral values, using animals that represent human traits in order to make the lesson engaging and relatable. Classic examples of fables can be found in the works of Aesop, where animals are used to illustrate the consequences of certain behaviors. In contrast, a homily is more focused on moral education from a religious or philosophical perspective, usually delivered as a sermon and lacking the narrative structure of a fable. Drama involves a play or performance conveyed through dialogue and action, often focusing on complex human emotions and situations without the singular moral focus of a fable. Poetry, while it can convey moral lessons, is not defined by a narrative format and instead emphasizes rhythm, sound, and imagery. Thus, the defining characteristics of a fable—its brevity, moral lesson, and use of animal characters—distinctly set it apart from the other forms of literature.