Scheherazade S Sisters

Based on the author's discovery of a new folktale type, the female trickster, Jurich's book identifies and celebrates those female protagonists in folktales who use trickery to save themselves and others, to find new directions for their lives, and to declare their individual autonomies, especially in societies that diminish and oppress women. Through creative strategies depending on verbal facility, psychological acuity, and diplomatic know-how, these women tricksters—better named trickstars—uncover the absurdity, hypocrisy, and corruption in the larger patriarchal society. Through the trickstar's efforts, the system is circumvented or foiled, often enlightened, and usually improved. This multicultural, comparative study reveals universal human traits as well as gender differences between female and male tricksters and realizes the values and attitudes which shape the trickstar's character and behavior. Trickstars also appear outside of the oral folktale tradition; the author discusses their roles in contemporary feminist revisionist tales, as well as in mythology, biblical narratives, Shakespearean comedy, novels, plays, and opera. How the female trickster differs from her male counterpart is, for the first time in folklore studies, illustrated through a comparison of their functions in the narrative scheme of the tale. These functions include the diverting or amusing role, the morally ambiguous or reprehensible role, the role of the manipulator or strategist, and the role of the transformer or culture bringer who reforms and improves the nature of her society. Jurich delineates the specific types of tricksters who perform these functions, suggests how trickstar tales variously affect listeners and readers, and shows how particular types of trickstar characters contribute to the intent of the tale. Feminist views of the protagonists are analyzed as well as contemporary revisionist tales which seek to reverse negative female images and to present independent women characters who can and do make positive contributions to society. For the first time in folklore studies, both female and male tricksters are defined and differentiated, their functions are illustrated through analyzing narrative schemes, and the term trickstar, invented by the author, is used to define and describe a female trickster.

The story of how Isma and Hajila, wives of the same man, escape from the traditional restraints imposed upon the women of their country.

In exquisite prose, Pinon tells the story of "One Thousand and One Nights" told from Scheherezade's perspective, giving readers the full depth and breadth of her jealousies and resentments, her longings and desires.

Attend, beloved listeners, to the tale of Scheherazade, whose magical stories are her only defense against mad kings, evil djinn, and an unspeakable mother-in-law... For truly it will take a silver tongue to save a pretty neck. From New York Times bestselling author Craig Shaw Gardner, the rollicking conclusion to his outrageous Sinbad series. The other Sinbad, Ali Baba, Aladdin, and friends are trapped in an enchanted cavern. But the fearless heroes soon find their way into the Palace of Beautiful Women, where they meet Queen Scheherazade, whose husband has the nasty habit of cutting off his wives' heads.

This edited volume presents unique insights on sibling relationships in adulthood in the early 21st century, focusing on three themes: relations beyond childhood and school years; factors shaping social support provision between siblings; and changes in family life and how these impact sibling relations. Comprised of chapters from distinguished international family scholars, this book examines sibling dynamics across age, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, geography, and social environments. It answers important questions such as, to what extent do siblings support each other at different stages of the life cycle? How do cultural practices and family obligations impact on sibling support? How does sibling support differ when looking at surrogates, migrant families, polygamous families, and siblings with disabilities? These contributions expand and contribute greatly to the field of sibling studies and will be of interest to all students and scholars studying and researching family relationships.

Contains reflections on body, sexuality, and gender in African literary texts. While the sections 'Gifted Bodies' and 'Queered Bodies' show new developments in viewing body and sexuality as creative powers, the sections 'Tainted Bodies' and 'Violated Bodies' comprise essays that investigate the exposure of the body to physical aggression and other traumatic experiences.

Reproduction of the original.

Nobody knows how old the stories in this classic volume are, or who told them first. Noah’s grandchildren, the children of Ham, Shem and Japhet may have listened to them on the Ark. Hector's little boy may have heard them in the City of Troy, but it is certain that Homer knew them, and that some of them were written down in Egypt at about the time of Moses. Herein are 32 tales from the 1001 Arabian Nights compiled by Andrew Lang in which heroic figures such as Aladdin, Ali Baba, Sinbad, and others, whose luck and ingenuity carry them through perilous adventures. These were usually quests set by rulers, in which a young man was set a number of challenges to prove his mettle. Others adventures were the daring rescues of Princesses by valiant knights on white chargers - what else? Whatever the reason, the adventures and escapades in far-flung places will keep young readers enthralled for hours. The 65 illustrations by H. J. Ford give the stories added depth and meaning. As always, there are plenty of kings and queens, princes and princesses in these fairy tales, just because long ago there were plenty of kings in most countries. Now 'The Arabian Nights,' some of which, but not nearly all, are given in this volume, are only a sliver of the fairy tales of the East. The people of Asia, Arabia, and Persia told them in their own way, not only for children, but for grown-up people. There were no novels back then, nor any printed books, and definitely no internet or tablet PCs. But there were people whose profession it was to entertain and amuse men, women and children by telling tales. They travelled the country, from village to village, and told their stories, dressed them up and made the characters good Muslims, Hindus and Jews, living in Persia, Arabia or India. NOTE: I can remember reading 'The Arabian Nights' when I was six years old, in dirty yellow old volumes of small type with no pictures, and I hope children who read them with Mr. Ford's pictures will be as happy as I was then in the company of Aladdin and Sindbad the Sailor. Andrew Lang