Literary notes about Apologue (AI summary)
In literature, the term "apologue" is often employed to describe a brief, allegorical narrative that conveys moral lessons or profound truths in an indirect, sometimes humorous manner. Authors have used it to weave subtle historical commentary, as seen when Chesterton emphasizes an unexaggerated account of events [1], and to craft fables or parables that, while fictitious, invite readers to discern deeper meanings, much like Byron’s playful juxtaposition of truth and invention [2]. Moreover, its usage spans from framing a sermon with contextual illustration [3] to eliciting wistful nostalgia or wit, as demonstrated in the narrative episodes that bring ancient morality to life [4], thus underlining its versatility as a literary instrument.
- Such an apologue is literally no exaggeration of the facts of English history.
— from What's Wrong with the World by G. K. Chesterton - Apologue, fable, poesy, and parable, Are false, but may he render'd also true,
— from Don Juan by Baron George Gordon Byron Byron - But a house is not erected for the sake of the windows, nor may a sermon be arranged with the view of fitting in a favorite apologue.
— from The Art of Illustration by C. H. (Charles Haddon) Spurgeon - The apologue[ 3 ] is from the immortal gods; Or, if the gift of man it is, Its author merits apotheosis.
— from Fables of La Fontaine — a New Edition, with Notes by Jean de La Fontaine