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?