The Arab perspective on fables

Unlike the happily ever after that readers can count on in English fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood, Arabic fairy tales are slightly darker without the clear-cut romantic storyline.

Imed Nsiri, an assistant professor of literature at the American University of Sharjah, spoke to Gulf News about the connection between Arabic culture and its perspective in Arabic fairy tales.

Nsiri explained that the concept of an Arabic fairy tale "is not necessarily the same as a fairy tale in English… with a happy world where everything is mostly positive."

He said that some of the more popular Arabic fairy tales are khurafahs, or fables, such as those making up the One Thousand and One Nights.

Other Arabic fairy tales or folklore are similar to biographies, called sirahs, including Sirat Antar and Sirat Bani Hilal.

The sirahs are usually based on reality that is exaggerated into fiction. Nsiri said that the message in Arabic fairy tales represents the culture, in that the story encourages working hard to overcome any struggles because there is always a chance of a nobody becoming a somebody.

"In an Arabic fairy tale, you can find the magical elements such as a genie.

"It may not be as happy as usual fairy tales; the message, however, is consistent where the underdog becomes the hero," he said.