Abstracts, Seminar 2 |
The abstracts are copied as received. |
Prehistoric Time and the Time of Myths and Legends
(10) The Oldest Children's Story in Persian HistoryMrs. Zohreh Ghaeni, Iran When looking back to ancient times, we have a very long narration which includes thousands of stories. These are the stories of very old lands and they have been told throughout these lands' ancient history. One of these lands of stories and legends is Persia and a story which reflects its history is the Asurik Tree. The Asurik Tree dates back to nearly 3,000 years ago. Throughout these 3,000 years, it has traveled around Persia , reflecting the different lives of its people in each new narration. About 2,000 years ago this story was written in Pahlavi script. It is one of the oldest written children's stories in the world and its changes reflect the changes in human civilization.
Asurik Tree The Asurik Tree is a legend in rhythmic verse which was related by storytellers, called Gosan (Balladeers), in ancient times. After centuries, during the Sasanid period, this legend was written in the Pahlavi language. This legend is about what might seem to be a battle of wits between a palm tree and a goat. In fact, it represents a symbolic confrontation between the era of agriculture, as represented by the tree, and raising cattle as represented by the goat – a struggle between two ways of life that have been central to Iran 's history. Although this legend reflects two ways of life, it was a story for children, and through it children learned about the benefits of palm trees and goats for humans. Zohreh Ghaeni z_ghaeni@yahoo.com
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Pascuala Corona: The Mexican Grimm Editor Juana Inés Dehesa , Mexico Pascuala Corona is the nom de plume of Teresa Castelló Yturbide, a Mexican woman born in 1917, whose life has been devoted to the rescue and preservation of Mexican traditions and techniques. Though she has published many titles on traditional arts and crafts, she is known for being the first, and so far the only, one to collect and write Mexican folktales, which she gathered when she was a young and distressed rural teacher. That is right: when in class, she pacified the children with the promise “if you stay quiet, I will tell you a story”, and so she told the tales her nana (Mexican word for nanny ) used to tell her and her siblings. Legend has it that when her recollections failed, she went to nanas and maids that worked at her friends' and relatives' houses and asked for more stories: “Please, tell me a story!” Once she got married and had children, her husband proposed publishing all the material, for all Mexican children to know and share. That's how she began her career as a well-respected author and as a keeper and embellisher of tales that combine the heritage of both the Spanish and the Prehispanic culture, for their structure is often European, but the indigenous words and sense is ever present. The proposed structure for my paper on Pascuala Corona is as follows:
Juana Inés Dehesa Basic relevant biographical data
I was born in Mexico City in 1977 and I studied Spanish Literature and Language at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, where I embraced Children's Literature and Reading as my major. I started writing papers using Children's Literature as my object of study, and my final paper, my thesis, was on Mexican Children's Literature, namely the narrative of Pascuala Corona. Afterwards, I got to prepare Norma's edition of Corona 's complete works and I wrote a foreword for it. Ever since, I've attended every conference, lecture, course and coffee talk I could, in order to become part of the very small and warm group of people devoted to children's books in Mexico : writers, scholars, authors, editors. Since it is a relatively young branch of the Mexican publishing industry, it is a very reduced community, so I have been able to experience all kinds of jobs: I have worked at schools, as part of a reading workshop; as proof-reader and then as editor at the children's books division of the publishing house Fondo de Cultura Económica; as an advisor for private publishing houses such as Mondadori, for the Mexican Board of Education, and for ibby Mexico; as a free-lance reader, and, recently, as co-founder and co-editor of a children's literary supplement, Hoja por Hoja para Niños y Jóvenes.
Tel. y fax +(52-55) 52-11-04-27 y 52-11-04-92
mailto:direccion@ibbymexico.org.mx
(77) Stories Beginning expression and Myths of OriginBy Mohammad.H.Saki
In Iran stories begin "Yeki Bood Yeki Nabod" which is not only a simple expression to start a story with, but also it shows worshiping god and denotes the creation of the world. At the begging the main terms like myth, narrative and story will be explained. Then according to the connection of this expression to oral literature, its different meaning in myths in linguistic issues will be studied. It seems that " Yeki Bood Yeki Nabood " has a remarkable relation with monotheism in one hand and in another hand to Islamic myths about creation. Further more we can see the presence of the meaning of this expression in Zoroastrian myths about creation, based on believing that the world is made by a war of Evil and Good and also it belongs to Manichean thoughts who believe in light and darkness. Regarding to any of mentioned believes it can be understood that "Yeki Bood Yeki Naobod" as an expression is a connection between stories and myths.
References: • The Qoran • The Avesta • Duchesne - guillemin, jaccques. Ormazd & Ahriman. Translated by Abbas Bagheri. Tehran : farzan, 2006 • Bettelheim, bruno. The uses of enchantment. Translated by :Kamal Behruzkia. Tehran: afkar, 2005 • Dadagi, farnbaq. Bondahesh. Translated by Mehrdad Bahar. Tehran : toos, 1999 • Eliade, Mircea. Essential sacred writing from around. Translated by Mani Salehi. Tehran : fararavan, 2005 • Hinnels, John Russells. Persian Mythology. Translated by Zhaleh Amuzegar & Ahmad Tafazoli. Tehran: cheshmeh, 1998 • Marzloph, Ulrich. Typology of Persian Folk Tales. Translated by k. jahandari. Tehran : sorush 1997 • Pellowski , Anne. The World of Storytelling. Translated by Ebrahim Eghlidi, Tehran : sorush 1985
Relevant Biography: I have a BA in architecture. I am TV script writer and also critic and researcher in ethic & classic literature for children.
Address: 2 nd floor, No 69, Nazari alley, Abureyhan street, Enghelab avenue, Tehran, Iran Tel: 0098 (21) 66408074 Email: mhsaki@yahoo.com
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“The Significance of Myths and Legends in Children's Literature in Contemporary Zimbabwe” Lecturer & translator Mickias Musiyiwa , Zimbabwe
Abstract: This paper interrogates the relevance of myths and legends in children's literature in contemporary Zimbabwe . Specific reference is made to the Shona people's creation and aetiological myths and legends of Nehoreka, Nehanda and Chaminuka. Like most countries the world over, Zimbabwe is rich in folklore, some of which like myths, legends, folktales, music, dance and songs have constituted children's entertainment since time immemorial. While in modern times, children still listen to orally rendered legendary and mythical tales, especially in rural communities, they now also have the opportunity to read the same stories after some have been adapted to children's literature. The paper proffers the view that myths and legends are still crucial in the content of children's literature books. Creation and aetiological myths help children come to terms with their society's physical and social phenomena and indeed its cultural traditions and beliefs. Legends develop children's historical and cultural consciousness thereby helping them celebrate the historical achievements of their society and also understand societal contradictions that have transpired in the past. Far more important legends embody the highest moral values of a culture and thus contribute in shaping children's moral consciousness. Both the fantastic and the supernatural motifs so abound in myths and legends develop children's imaginative capacities and ability to conceive strange worlds.
Basic Relevant Biographical Data: Mr. Mickias Musiyiwa is a lecturer in children's literature, literary theory and African culture at the University of Zimbabwe . He is actively involved in research in children's literature and has published several articles in children's literature journals. He has participated in children's literature conferences notably the 29 th IBBY Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2004 and the International Conference on Storytelling organized by AWIC (Indian IBBY), held in New Delhi, Indian, September 2007. He is a translator of children's literature and a consultant with government and non-governmental institutions on matters dealing with children's reading material. He is a regular advisor to local publishers on issues pertaining to children's books. Currently, he is working on his doctoral thesis on mythology and literature.
Contact Details:
Contact Address: Department of African Languages & Literature University of Zimbabwe P.O. Box MP167 Mount Pleasant Harare , ZIMABWE E-mail: toyindepi@yahoo.com |