Summary
Highlights
A parable is a short text that uses a story or an image to express a deeper meaning, which the reader must decipher. It requires critical thinking to understand the underlying message.
Parables can be short stories or proverbs, such as 'The jug goes to the well until it breaks.' To decipher it, you first identify the literal image level (the jug and the well) and then consider its deeper meaning, which in this case suggests that nothing lasts forever.
To write a parable, first consider the message you want to convey, for example, 'Those who want success must work for it.' Then, find an image or story that metaphorically expresses this message, such as 'Lazy gardeners starve in front of their apple trees.'
In summary, a parable is a short story or proverb where a thought is presented figuratively. The message is encoded, requiring the reader to think and interpret it.