Introduction

The Arabian Nights

Though there are many theories about the origins of The Arabian Nights, it seems right that this comes from a collection of folk stories thought to be from Sasanian Persia in the 6th century. The Book of One Thousand and One Night added and complied with many stories. It gained its present form from the 13th ~15th centuries. The Arabian Nights was written in Arabic and was based on Islamic thought. Though the writer is unknown, its wide geographical background and various issues make us believe that it probably had more than one author. Not only do its various stories and simplicity amuse readers, but it is also considered a great work thanks to the wisdom and lessons it tells.

Shahryar, the king of Sasanian Persia who also ruled India and China, marries a new wife every night and executes her the next day. Sheherazade, a vizier’s clever daughter, volunteers to become Shahrayar’s wife and tells him stories every night. The king postpones the execution out of a desire to hear the rest of the tale, and her storytelling continues for 1,001 days. Familiar stories such as Aladdin’s Lamp, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and Sindbad the Sailor are included in this book.

Aladdin’s Lamp

Aladdin is a lazy boy and a troublemaker in his village. One day, Aladdin meets a sorcerer, who is called his uncle. The sorcerer takes Aladdin to a mountain and tells him to bring an old lamp from a magic cave. When Aladdin tells him that he will not give him the lamp until he lets Aladdin come out of the cave first, the angry sorcerer traps him in the cave and leaves.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Ali Baba, a poor woodcutter, happens to overhear a large band of thieves visiting the forest where he is cutting wood. Ali Baba quickly hides in the branches of a tree. He finds out that the thieves’ treasure is in a cave, and he learns the words to open the door while watching them. He gets rich by sneaking into the cave and taking lots of treasure. After that, problem occurs between the thieves and Ali Baba, who knows their secret, and the thieves’ first victim is Ali Baba’s brother, who is murdered. But with the help of wise Morgiana, a member of Ali Baba's household, Ali Baba is able to defeat the thieves.