Folokloric Traditions Alf Layla Wa Layla

Oral Folktales and Their Significance

• Definition of Oral Folktales:

  • Folk narratives passed through generations by word of mouth.

  • Often feature popular heroes and relatable themes.

• Alf layla wa-layla (Thousand and One Nights):

  • The most recognized example of oral folktales.

  • A collection of tales from diverse cultures including India, Persia, and the Arab world.

• Cultural Reception:

  • Historically not considered part of the 'adab' (literature) canon.

  • Revival of interest in the 19th century, particularly in Western cultures.

The Folkloric Tradition – 1001 Nights

• Collection Overview:

  • The One Thousand and One Nights / Kitāb Alf Layla wa Layla is a compilation of folk tales in Arabic from the Islamic Golden Age.

  • Often inaccurately referred to in English as the "Arabian Nights."

• Frame Story:

  • Central narrative revolves around the king Shahryar and his wife Scheherazade.

  • Stories are interwoven, with some tales embedded within others or standalone.

The Main Frame Story

• Plot Summary:

  • King Shahryar, after discovering infidelities including his wife's, becomes bitter.

  • Executes each new bride after one night, believing all women are unfaithful.

  • Vizier's daughter, Scheherazade, offers herself as the next bride to save the remaining women.

• Storytelling Device:

  • On their wedding night, Scheherazade begins a tale and leaves it unfinished.

  • This compels the king to delay her execution to hear the conclusion, resulting in 1,001 nights of storytelling.

Themes and Variability of Tales

• Diversity of Narratives:

  • Genres include history, love, tragedy, comedy, and poetry.

  • Features supernatural elements like jinns and sorcerers mixed with historical context.

• Notable Protagonists:

  • Includes figures such as:

    • Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid

    • Vizier Jafar al-Barmaki

    • Poet Abu Nuwas

• Famous Stories:

  • "Aladdin's Lamp"

  • "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"

  • "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad"

Historical Context of the Tales

• Sources of the Stories:

  • Persian tales with Indian elements transformed into Arabic during the 10th century.

  • New tales created in Baghdad (10th-12th centuries) and Egypt (13th-14th centuries).

Translation and Reception

• Initial Translation:

  • Translated in the early 18th century by Antoine Galland, gaining significant popularity.

• Historical Disregard:

  • In the Arabic world until the mid-20th century, it was rarely discussed and often looked down upon.

• Cultural Recognition:

  • The oral tradition and creative authorship acknowledged only recently as an important aspect of folklore.