Perspectives

To engage in a broader conversation about “A Fable” by Robert Fox, we recommend that you also consider the literary period when it was written as well as similar works.

Literary period

First published in 1966, the short story fits the literary movement we call Postmodernism which defines most of the literature published starting with the 1960s. Postmodernist works can be recognized through themes, context, and narrative techniques. In “A Fable”, we notice that the writer explores themes like lack of identity and materialism, which can often be found in postmodern literature.

In terms of narrative techniques, “A Fable” uses humor, juxtaposition, and introduces an almost surreal element in the story (the wedding is about to be performed by the train conductor), to highlight the a...