Parable

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Parable
 
A short story with emotive or moral significance which initiates a comparison. Based on the literary device simile (like, as) or metaphor.
Parables have a sense of fable or allegory about them.
Since the 19th Century, three types of parables have been classified: the parable proper, the similitude, the example story.
 
The parable proper

There are 16 proper parables in the gospels.

• They typically begin 'There was rich man...' 'A certain debtor...'. In Matthew’s gospel they generally begin by stating the explicit comparison. 'The kingdom of heaven is like...' (Mt 13)
• They are one-off stories; longer; detailed
• They tell not of an actual event but one that is still plausible
• They are ‘Once upon a time stories’, told in the past tense

Parables include:

• ‘There was rich man…’ Lk 16:1
• ‘A certain debtor had…’Lk 7:41
• ‘A sower went out to sow…’ Lk 8:5 (Mk 4:3, Mt 13:3)
• In a certain city Lk 18:1-8, (Mt 21:28-30)

 

The similitude

There are 12 similitudes in the gospel.

• They typically begin ‘Which of you….’
• They are regular, everyday stories; typical experience
• They are recognised as true
• They are in the present tense
• They are concise

Similitudes include:

• ‘Which of you…’ Lk 15:5; 14:28, 31
• ‘What woman…’Lk 15:8
• ‘What King…’ Lk14:31

The example story

There are 4 example stories in the Gospels.

• They compare an event with a moral or religious ethic
• They give one example to illustrate a general principal

Example stories include:

• The Good Samaritan Lk 10:29-37
• The Rich Fool Lk 12:16-21
• The rich man and Lazarus Lk 16:19-31
• The Pharisee and Tax Collector Lk 18:9-14