Folk stories

[ahmadjee]

I have been reading a lot of classical English lit these days namely Shakespeare. Can’t help comparing these stories to the classical folk stories that I read all my childhood. Even though the human nature is the same everywhere but I can see the huge cultural gap not only in the emotions of the characters but also in the narrative.

Wonder if stories like Sassi-Pannu, Hir-Ranjha, Laila-MajnooN, Sohni-Mahiwal, Sheeren-Farhad etc. were to be translated, would English, as a language be able to give the same perspective of the stories as they are understood in their native language? And would the English lit audience be able to understand the cultural complexities involved?

I am also looking for some folk stories from the sub-continent on the web or a hard copy. Anyone knows where I can find a few?

[Jal_Pari]

Are Umro Ayyar, Amir Hamza and Hatam Taai etc etc stories considered folks stories?

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif

I used to be obssesed with these when i was young. I have read tonnes of them.

[Andhra]

You will do well to read 'Pancha Tantra', a compendium of Indian fables, like Aesops fables.
Said to be prepared for the son of a King who found the traditional methods of teaching too rigorous and has to be taught his lessons in the form of stories.

[Sehar]

And would the English lit audience be able to understand the cultural complexities involved?

Depends if the English Literature audience is well exposed to the culture of which the stories belong to.

By whom are these classical stories (Heer-Ranjha, etc.) written?

[ahmadjee]

Folk Tales of Pakistan