omani folktales folktales are important in every world culture. a society without stories about its...
TRANSCRIPT
OMANI FOLKTALES
Folktales are important in every world culture. A society without stories about its beginnings, its heroes, and its deepest values is like a person without a name, a family without roots.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Folktales are stories told by the common
people.
• a way to entertain
• a functional tool• preserved important events -> carried the
very memory of human collectives• served as models of morality, teaching
people how to behave and relate to others
CONTEMPORARY SIGNIFICANCE
Art and Profession• al-hakawati
Can the art of storytelling be preserved? The last hakawati
Oman’s Ministry of Information • sought to revive folktale traditions through folk
programs on radio and television;• Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (Washington, DC)
sponsored the publication of this collection
DHOFARLocation?Geographical characteristics?
Chief source of frankincense, incense, and myrrh.
Honey, figs, mangoes, cucumbers, frankincense, fishing
SHAQ AND SHURAMBAQ, THE GENIE BRIDE, AND THE SAD LITTLE GIRL
What type of folktale is it (fairy tale, myth,
legend/epic, tall tale, fable, religious
story/parable)?
What is the theme of the story?
How is the story acted out, and how does this help
carry the story (animals, royalty, extremely
poor/extremely rich, magical beings)?
SHAQ AND SHURAMBAQ, THE GENIE BRIDE, AND THE SAD LITTLE GIRL
What is revealed about the generosity of spirit of the
characters? Would they serve as models for others to follow?
Using as many of the following qualities (caring, courage,
piety, giving, faithfulness, fortitude, intelligence, hard work,
patience, honesty, justice and fairness, perseverance,
respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, respect) as fit the
story, what character traits seem to be valued in the story
and culture?
SHAQ AND SHURAMBAQ, THE GENIE BRIDE, AND THE SAD LITTLE GIRL
What is the lesson of this folktale?
What is revealed about Dhofar’s culture
through the folktale? Do the stories have
common elements with other places and
people or are they specific to this culture? Perfume, butter, camels, folk medicine – heated pieces of metal
Trust in God, acceptance and respect
HOMEWORK
Choose one of the two questions and respond briefly to it in our
discussion forum. Write a comment to another post.
Using a real-life scenario, write a description of how the
story (choose one) fits a situation you have encountered or may
encounter in the future.
What insight does the story (choose one) provide in assisting
a person to do the right thing?