Talking animals in fiction Talking animals in fiction Talking animals are a common theme in mythology and folk tales, as well as children's literature. Fictional talking animals often are anthropomorphic, possessing human-like qualities but appearing as a creature. The usage of talking animals enable storytellers to combine the basic characteristics of the animal with human behavior, to apply metaphor, and to entertain children. There are a number of alleged real-life talking animals. The creature retains its original form without much change, other than being able to speak. Sometimes it may only speak as a narration for the reader's convenience. The rabbits in "Watership Down"
Down by the River (novel) old weapons were sharp and effective; perhaps she comes too late to this particular fight." Though "Kirkus Reviews" praised the novel as "one of the most ferocious indictments of Gaelic life and culture since "The Playboy of the Western World,"" it describes the novel as not entirely satisfying with a "propagandistic tone and two-dimensional characterizations." Down by the River (novel) Down by the River is a 1997 novel by Irish novelist Edna O'Brien. The novel depicts the response of a local community the a girl, Mary, abuse by her father being exposed to their local community when she tries to