The Arabian Nights is a fascinating collection of folk tales mainly from the Arab world. Here is the summary of ten of these incredibly varied and captivating tales.
-
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp : Aladdin, a poor young man, is tricked by a wizard who gives him a lamp. This lamp contains a genie who grants Aladdin's wishes, helping him overcome many challenges and marry the princess of his dreams.
-
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves : Ali Baba, a lumberjack, discovers the secret lair of forty thieves. With the help of his servant Morgiana, he narrowly avoids the thieves' wrath after taking advantage of their treasure.
-
Sindbad the Sailor : This tale recounts Sindbad's seven fantastic voyages, during which he encounters magical creatures, raging storms and discovers wondrous treasures.
-
The Fisherman and the Genie : A poor fisherman frees a genie from a jar. In gratitude, the genie offers the fisherman wishes, but the fisherman must first solve puzzles.
-
The Vizier Who Was Punished : A loyal vizier is falsely accused of treason by his rival and sentenced to death. However, thanks to his cunning, he manages to prove his innocence and turn the situation around.
-
The Princess of Deryabar : The Princess of Deryabar flees her kingdom after a family betrayal. She finds refuge with a sultan who falls in love with her and helps her find her kingdom.
-
The Enchanted Horse : A stranger presents a mechanical horse to the sultan. The sultan's son flies away on the horse and lives incredible adventures before returning and marrying the sultan's daughter.
-
The Three Apples : This is a mysterious tale of a crime, where a man finds a golden apple that leads to a series of events leading to a murder that must be solved.
-
The Merchant and the Genie : A merchant accidentally hits the son of a genie and is sentenced to death. Three old men intercede for him and tell their stories to the genie, who ends up sparing the merchant's life.
-
The Town of Copper Milk : In this tale, a prince must overcome many challenges to save a town and its princess from a spell that has turned everything into copper.
Here is a full summary of each tale:
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp
The encounter with the wizard
The tale begins with Aladdin, a poor young boy who lives with his widowed mother. One day, a wizard pretending to be his late father's brother approaches him. The wizard tricks Aladdin into retrieving an old lamp from a magical cave, full of treasure. But Aladdin finds himself trapped in the cave when the wizard discovers that he cannot retrieve the lamp.
The appearance of genius
Rubbing his hands to clear his thoughts, Aladdin involuntarily rubs the lamp and releases a powerful genie. The genie helps Aladdin out of the cave. Back home, Aladdin discovers that the genie can grant him almost any wish. With the help of the genie, Aladdin becomes rich and powerful.
Aladdin's love for the princess
Aladdin falls in love with the Sultan's princess and asks for her hand. With the genie's help, he impresses the sultan with a gift of rare treasures and is allowed to marry the princess.
The Sorcerer's Return
However, the wicked wizard discovers that Aladdin is still alive and has the lamp. He hatches a plan to retrieve the lamp and uses his own genie to abduct the princess and her palace.
Aladdin's Final Victory
Fortunately, Aladdin has a magic ring given by the wizard. When he rubs it, a second genie appears and helps Aladdin find his wife and his palace. With the help of this genie and the princess, Aladdin manages to kill the wizard and recover the lamp. Aladdin, the princess and their mother then live happily and peacefully for the rest of their lives.
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
The discovery of the treasure
The tale begins with Ali Baba, a poor woodcutter, who discovers the 40 Thieves' secret treasure in a cave while chopping wood in the forest. The thieves use the magic words "Open Sesame" to open and close the cave. Ali Baba hears these words and enters the cave to discover a huge treasure.
Ali Baba's Wealth
Ali Baba takes a few bags of gold and goes home. He shares the secret with his brother Cassim, who is more miserly and cunning. Cassim goes into the cave to get more gold but, in a panic, he forgets the magic words to get out and gets stuck inside.
Cassim's death and the thieves on the trail
The thieves discover Cassim and kill him. Ali Baba finds his brother's body, takes him home and has him discreetly buried. However, the leader of the thieves realizes that someone else knows their secret and seeks revenge.
The sharp mind of Morgiana
Morgiana, Ali Baba's servant, plays a vital role in saving Ali Baba's life. She discovers that the leader of the thieves has disguised himself as a merchant and has hidden his men in jars of oil. She pours boiling oil into the jars and kills all the thieves. She then exposes the disguised leader of the thieves and kills him, thus saving Ali Baba's life.
A quiet life for Ali Baba
At the end of the tale, Ali Baba continues to live modestly despite his wealth. He tells his sons the story of the thieves and the treasure, reminding them of the importance of honesty and moderation. Morgiana is rewarded for her bravery and intelligence by being freed and married to Ali Baba's son.
Sinbad the Sailor
Sinbad's First Voyage
Sinbad is a wealthy man of humble origins with a thirst for adventure. For his first trip, he boards a ship and discovers a paradise island. But he realizes that the island is actually a giant whale dragging them to the bottom of the sea. Only Sinbad survives by snagging a piece of driftwood.
The discovery of the island of Serendib
In another trip, Sinbad discovers the island of Serendib (Sri Lanka), where he is welcomed by the king. Impressed by Sinbad's honesty, the king offers him many valuable gifts, which Sinbad accepts. In contrast, Sinbad shows great generosity and shares his wealth with the less fortunate upon his return.
The encounter with the monsters
In another journey, Sinbad and his crew encounter a gigantic Roc bird, which leads them to a valley of diamonds. However, giant serpents guard the diamonds. Sinbad manages to escape these snakes and collect diamonds, increasing his wealth.
The Underground Kingdom
Sinbad discovers an underground kingdom on another trip. The inhabitants of this realm are blinded by darkness and have no knowledge of the outside world. Sinbad brings them knowledge and light and is rewarded by their king with more treasure.
Return to Baghdad
After many adventures, Sinbad returns to Baghdad, rich and satisfied with his travels. He shares his stories with those who are willing to listen, spreading knowledge of his travels and experiences.
Sinbad's Legacy
Sinbad is portrayed as a generous, intelligent, and adventurous character, leaving a lasting legacy. His stories continue to fascinate and inspire, showing that adventure and discovery are often the greatest riches.
The Fisherman and the Genie
The discovery of genius
One day a lowly fisherman, after a day without catching any fish, casts his net for the last time and catches a copper jar. He opens it to find a creepy Genie escaping.
The Genie Threat
The Genie, who had been imprisoned in the jar by King Solomon, is angry that he has been locked away for so long. He tells the fisherman that he wants to kill him in retaliation, despite the fact that it was the fisherman who freed him.
The fisherman's trick
The cunning fisherman tells the Genie that he doesn't believe he was actually in the jar, as he is too big to fit inside. The Genie, wanting to prove that he was telling the truth, returns to the jar. The fisherman quickly seals him inside, trapping him once again.
The lesson learned
The fisherman leaves the Genie in the jar, promising to release him if he swears not to kill him. The Genie, grateful and humbled, swears not to kill him and is eventually freed. The story ends with the fisherman returning home with the lessons and wisdom he has acquired.
The moral of the tale
This Arabian Nights tale offers an important lesson in cunning, intelligence and generosity. The fisherman, though poor and humble, shows great wisdom in confronting the Genie. The story illustrates the idea that true wealth lies in wisdom and intelligence, rather than material possessions.
The Vizier who was punished
The plot
"The Vizier Who Was Punished" is a memorable tale from One Thousand and One Nights, which tells the story of an ambitious, but unscrupulous Vizier. The latter is punished by the Sultan for his selfish and deceitful behavior.
The Vizier's deception
The Vizier, in search of power, uses his intelligence and cunning to manipulate those around him and thus climb the ladder of power. However, his disloyal behavior is discovered by the Sultan who, furious, decides to punish him.
The punishment
The Sultan, to punish the Vizier, decides to publicly humiliate him. He exiles him from the court, deprives him of his wealth and makes him beg in the streets. The Vizier is forced to live a life of poverty and humility, far from the luxurious court life to which he was accustomed.
Redemption
The Vizier, after years of exile, realizes the error of his ways and sincerely repents. Touched by his repentance, the Sultan finally forgives him and reinstates him at court, but this time as a simple servant. The Vizier humbly accepts his new position and promises to lead an honest and just life.
The moral of the tale
"The Vizier Who Was Punished" is a story that teaches the importance of honesty, humility and justice. It shows that the lust for power and wealth can lead to ruin, and that true power lies in integrity and goodness.
The Princess of Deryabar
The plot
"The Princess of Deryabar" is an enchanting Arabian Nights tale that tells the story of the brave Princess Gulnare. Orphan and alone, she manages to overcome the obstacles to claim her right to the kingdom of Deryabar.
The Princess's Childhood
Princess Gulnare grows up in the kingdom of Deryabar, loved by her father the king. However, after his death, the kingdom is usurped by a malevolent vizier who kills all the royals except Gulnare who manages to escape.
Princess Survival
Despite her young age, the princess survives by hiding in the forest and feeding on fruits and berries. She learns to hunt and fish, developing skills and stamina that would surprise even her. She never gives up hope of finding her kingdom.
The Claim of the Kingdom
When she reaches adulthood, Princess Gulnare decides to claim her kingdom. With the help of a foreign prince who falls in love with her, she overthrows the vizier and takes over Deryabar's throne.
The moral of the tale
"The Princess of Deryabar" is an inspiring story of courage, resilience and justice. She teaches that no matter what obstacles life throws at you, with courage and determination, you can overcome any challenge. It's an ode to the strength of the human spirit and the relentless quest for justice.
The Enchanted Horse
The story
"The Enchanted Horse" is a fascinating story from the collection of One Thousand and One Nights. It narrates the extraordinary adventures of a daring prince, mounted on a mechanical horse, who travels around the world to save a princess.
The birth of the enchanted horse
One day, a stranger presents the king with a mechanical horse that he claims can fly. The king's son, intrigued, climbs on the back of the strange creature and finds himself propelled into the air, traveling through mountains and seas.
The Prince and the Princess
During his journey, the prince discovers a distant kingdom and meets a princess in danger. In love with the princess, he decides to save her from the evil wizard who is holding her captive.
The fight against the wizard
The prince challenges the wizard to free the princess. After a fierce struggle, he manages to defeat the wizard, freeing the princess and ending his reign of terror.
Return to the Kingdom
The prince, mounted on the enchanted horse, returns to his kingdom with the princess. They are welcomed as heroes, and the king, proud of his son, cedes the throne to him.
The moral of the tale
"The Enchanted Horse" is a tale of adventure and bravery, which teaches us that courage and daring can lead us to accomplish incredible things. This tale also illustrates the idea that love can be a powerful driving force in overcoming obstacles and achieving great things.
The Three Apples
The story
"The Three Apples" is a mysterious tale among the tales of the Thousand and One Nights. This is a murder riddle featuring a caliph, a vizier, and a mysterious crate containing a dead woman.
The mystery of the box
One day, a crate is fished from the Tigris in Baghdad. Inside, Caliph Haroun al-Rashid and his vizier Ja'far find the body of a young woman cut into pieces. They swear to solve the murder in three days, otherwise they will commit suicide.
The appearance of the young man
A young man then appears and confesses to having killed his wife out of jealousy, because he surprised her with an apple given by her lover. He cuts up his body to hide his crime. But later, he discovers that the apple belonged to his slave who had stolen it from a merchant.
The caliph forgives the young man
Relieved that the mystery is solved, the caliph forgives the young man. However, he is horrified by the story and decides to hang the young man and himself to teach a lesson to anyone who succumbs to jealousy.
The real murderer is revealed
Just as they were about to be hanged, an old man shows up and confesses to being the real murderer. He turns out to be the stepfather of the young woman, who had wanted revenge on her for refusing to marry her after the death of her husband.
The moral of the tale
"The Three Apples" is a tale that deals with the consequences of jealousy, honor and revenge. It teaches us the importance of truth, justice and honesty, while showing that appearances can be deceiving.
The Merchant and the Genie
The story
"The Merchant and the Genie" is a tale from the Arabian Nights, which tells the story of a merchant who unknowingly offends a genie and must use his wits to save himself from death.
The fatal encounter
One day, while on a business trip, the merchant stops to rest and eat. He unknowingly throws the stones of his dates on a specific place where a genius had been imprisoned. Furious, the genie appears and announces to the merchant that he is going to kill him for this harmless gesture.
The request for a stay
Frightened, the merchant manages to convince the genie to grant him a reprieve of one year so that he can return home and put his affairs in order. The genie agrees, but only if the merchant returns after a year to submit to his sentence.
The intervention of foreigners
A year later, the merchant returns, ready to accept his fate. Three old men pass by and, after hearing his story, decide to help him. Each tells the genie a story, the purpose of which is to make it clear that certain actions may seem unfair, but there may be justifiable reasons behind them.
The moral of the tale
The genie, touched by the stories of the old men, decides to forgive the merchant and free him. "The Merchant and the Genie" is a story that underlines the value of intelligence, empathy and forgiveness, while reminding that actions can have unintended consequences.
The City of Copper Milk
The story
"The City of Copper Milk" is a tale from the Arabian Nights which tells the story of a mysterious city called Copper Milk.
Discovery
One day, a traveler named Sindbad happens to be wandering in the desert. As he is about to die of thirst, he discovers a city of unparalleled beauty with walls that seem to be made of milk mixed with copper. Fascinated, he decides to enter.
An uninhabited city
Sindbad explores the city and realizes it is uninhabited. It is empty of life, only the majestic architecture bears witness to the civilization that once resided there. Everywhere he finds traces of life, but no sign of human presence.
The mystery solved
While searching the city, Sindbad comes across an inscription engraved on a copper plate. She explains that the town was cursed by a powerful jinn due to the arrogance and injustice of its people. They were turned into statues of milk and copper, hence the name of the city.
departure
Shocked by the discovery, Sindbad leaves the City of Copper Milk, taking the story with him as a warning against arrogance and injustice.
The moral of the tale
The tale of "The City of Copper Milk" serves as a reminder that material beauty and prosperity are fleeting, and that arrogance and injustice can lead to ruin. It also stresses the importance of morals and ethics in life.
Conclusion
Arabic tales are full of wisdom, imagination and moral lessons. They introduce us to the richness of Arab culture and values while entertaining us with unforgettable characters and captivating stories. So, are you ready to immerse yourself in the spellbinding world of Arabic tales?