Cautionary tale abschreckendes Beispiel

Cautionary tale
abschreckendes Beispiel
cautionary tale warnendes Beispiel
cautionary tale die Warnung  pl.: die Warnungen
tale die Geschichte  pl.: die Geschichten

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Illustration from "The Dreadful Story of Pauline and the Matches" from Struwwelpeter, by Heinrich Hoffman, 1858.
A cautionary tale or moral tale[1] is a tale told in folklore to warn its listener of a danger. There are three essential parts to a cautionary tale, though they can be introduced in a large variety of ways. First, a taboo or prohibition is stated: some act, location, or thing is said to be dangerous.[citation needed] Then, the narrative itself is told: someone disregarded the warning and performed the forbidden act. Finally, the violator comes to an unpleasant fate, which is frequently related in expansive and grisly detail.