King Schahriar revision notes

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1: Context.

Frame narrative from The Arabian Nights

( One Thousand and One Nights)

Derived from oral story telling culture of Asia.

Written down during Medieval period by various scholars so no one, identifiable author

Foundation narrative for Asian culture that it comes from

2: King Schahriar as a frame narrative

Frame narratives are traditional devices in oral storytelling and introduces character and scenario for other tales in a collection.

Introduces character of Scheherazade who tells the rest of the stories in The Arabian Nights.

Provides an explanation for the telling of the Arabian Nights

3: Themes and ideas.

The use and abuse of power

The power of language and stories

Male-vs-female power

4: Characters.

King Schahriar: A once kind and benevolent ruler who turns bitter and vengeful after his wife betrays him. This story sees his redemption by Scheherazade and her command of language a skill with story telling.

Scheherazade: The beautiful and highly intelligent daughter of the Prime Minister who asks to be married to Schahriar so she can remembered him and save all the other virgins he would otherwise slaughter. Scheherazade is the narrator of the remaining tales in the Arabian Nights.

Grand Vizir: Scheherazade's father and Prime Minister to King Schahriar. He is weak and unimaginative .

Dinarzade: Schereazade's sister who helps her in her quest to redeeem Schahriar by means of storytelling

King Schahriar quiz