The ending speech in Aesopic fables, where stories conclude with direct utterances from characters, is not merely a didactic tool but a crucial narrative device constructing hermeneutic complexity. This study systematically examines the narrative function of ending speech through computational analysis of 600 Aesopic fables from Laura Gibbs’ edition. We quantitatively analyzed the complex relationships between ending speech, story content, explicit morals and speaker identity using natural language processing techniques. The analysis reveals three key findings. First, the average similarity of ending speeches (0.1820) is significantly lower than that of stories (0.3578), confirming that ending speech forms a unique semantic domain rather than serving as a simple summary of the narrative. Latent Dirichlet allocation analysis also shows that ending speeches are differentiated into 13 topics, displaying a more complex structure than stories (seven topics). Second, we found that ending speech constitutes a distinct narrative domain from epimythium, with an overwhelming ratio of their relationships being either independent (76.8%) or tensional (21.4%). This indicates that the ending speech is a narrative device that amplifies interpretive complexity, often clashing with the epimythium rather than reinforcing it. Third, 249 different ending speech speakers each represent unique voices and perspectives, with the frequency of utterances – fox (34 times), lion (19 times) and wolf (18 times) – demonstrating a value system in Aesopic fables where wisdom is prioritized over physical strength. These findings indicate that the ending speech establishes complex and sometimes tensional relationships with both story and epimythium, thereby transforming fables into “open work” that can be newly interpreted. This study provides empirical evidence for understanding Aesopic fables not as simple didactic tales but as complex narratives with structural features supporting polyphonic interpretation, demonstrating the potential of computational narratology.
