卡夫卡(F. Kafka)的「小寓言故事」(Kleine Fabel)是一篇「譬喻體」的「喻道故事」(Parabel),無論外在形式或內容意涵皆有別於伊索似的「動物寓言」(Fabel)故事。本文探討卡夫卡此篇作品因篇名之故,常被視為「寓言體」、被當作寓言故事解析、詮釋,並且從中尋找道德教誨之意。然而,卡夫卡此篇文本所傳達之意,應非僅侷限於此,本文期待透過「德語外語教學」(DaF-Unterricht),讓學生有機會認識譬喻作品,體認、審視它與寓言之別,並且掌握其豐富的意涵層次。教學問卷顯示:學生(82%)的觀察視角於教學後已有相當程度的改變,他們樂意支持,並且接受「小寓言故事」是一篇用「譬喻」說出來的「喻道故事」。
Fable and parable are two distinct yet often bewildered genres in their form and content under the big umbrella of Language Literature. This paper explored a unique dilemma expression the university German Major students encountered while reading the text of Kafka's "A Little Fable" between its title and its genre form. At first, the students assumed its title, drew their background knowledge for a fable and tried to search a meaningful moral lesson from the text. Then with their teacher's guidance they engaged with two additional lectures reading intensively using parable's perspective. Later students came to realization to its veiled allegorical connotation. From the result of a survey indicates that most students (82% of students) held a dramatic view change by using parable lens. They have changed their "direction" from fable to parable.