“One Thousand and One Nights” The Sublime Example of Grotesque in Oriental Folk Literature

Abstract

"One Thousand and One Nights” The Sublime Example of Grotesque in Oriental Folk Literature Abstract Heeding the modern criticism and literary theory is an effective method for reading a text and achieving the deep meaning of it. Such an approach causes the reader’s vast understanding too. Therefore, nowadays the study of literature influenced by modern critical theories is profoundly attractive for researchers. The classic literary works are no exception. “One Thousand and One Nights” as the most comprehensive collection of Middle Eastern folk tales has always drawn sociologists’, anthropologists’, art and literature researchers’ attention to itself. Hence, by studying and analyzing it’s long and short tales and defining Grotesque features of them (e.g. incompatibility, disharmony, funny, terrifying and hideous issues) readers will respectfully find out that “One Thousand and One Nights” is not a collection of mere nonsensical absurd jokes. This paper is attempting to clarify that due to various contents, combination of comedy and tragedy, literary delicacy, mysterious themes and so on “One Thousand and One Nights” is the sublime example of Grotesque in Oriental folk literature and oral tradition.

Keywords

• one thousand and one nights
• grotesque
• mockery
• revulsion
• incompatibility