Literary Terms
When a later development of the story is hinted at in an earlier scene.
What is foreshadowing?
"He had journeyed
to the edge of the world and made his way back, exhausted
but whole. He had carved his trials on stone tablets,
had restored the holy Eanna Temple"
Who is Gilgamesh?
An adventurous story that is shared verbally.
What is a Folk Epic?
What are essential human questions?
"The Fisherman and the Jinnee" is a part of this larger work.
What is "1001 Arabian Nights"?
This is a recurring concept found in in many stories. It can be a character, setting, symbol, plot.
What is an archetype?
We are told this character
"ate grass with gazelles, and when he was thirsty
he drank clear water from the waterholes,
kneeling beside the antelope and deer"
Who is Enkidu?
This adventurous story is written down.
What is a literary epic?
This early civilization is responsible for The Epic of Gilgamesh.
Who are the Sumerians?
This is the name of the writing style used by Sumerians.
What is cuneiform?
This short phrase is used to describe someone or something. For example, "watchman of the Cedar Forest" or "great-walled Uruk".
What is an epithet?
This working man once found a dead donkey instead of his usual intake.
Who is the Fisherman?
This archetypal plot includes a main character on a quest who goes through an ordeal before changing.
What is a hero's journey?
These three religions all use the Hebrew Bible.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Many creation stories include this "something from nothing" archetype.
What is Creation from the Void?
The direct involvement of a deity in human affairs to alter situations.
What is divine intervention?
He was told "Be fertile, then, and increase; abound on the earth and increase on it."
Who is Noah?
These short phrases are meant to promote thought or offer advice. They do have their differences though.
Aphorism and Proverbs
Disney convinced us that these supernatural beings were lovable and benevolent. However, in Eastern culture, their role is more complex.
What is a jinnee?
This couple is known for using free-will and ultimately causing their own banishment.
Who are Adam and Eve?
This is a repeating grammatical structure that can create rhythm, clarity, or emphasis.
What is parallelism?
She asks
"Why are you so kind as to single me out, when I am a foreigner?"
Boaz said in reply. “I have been told of all that you did"
Who is Ruth?
There are 114 of these total, each containing verses and carrying divine guidance, spiritual lessons, and Islamic law.
What is a surah?
These highly-skilled orators are responsible for preserving and sharing their community's culture.
What are African griots?
"Unlit pachyderm," "short-term housing," and "dual powers of reasoning" would all be terrible titles for this poet.
Who is Rumi?