Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Reading Notes: Folklore of the Holy Land, Part A

This week, I have chosen to read a unit called Folklore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish. The stories are taken from a book of the same name, written by J.E. Hanauer. Thus far, this week's content fits nicely with my past readings for the class, especially Genesis and the Noah narrative from last week.

Today, I was especially drawn to the possibilities for two different stories within my readings, which are reflected in my notes below. For the first story, I took notes on Allah's great pen, and may explore its capabilities in the future. The second pertains to the unique differences between the Muslim account of Adam and Hawa, and the Christian Adam and Eve, and attempts to align those stories. 

Allah's Great Pen
The reading recount that before Allah created the world, he wrote the past, present, and future on a great tablet made of a giant pearl and rubies. He wrote on the tablet using an awesome pen. The legend claims that this pen was made of precious stones and was so long that one would have to travel 500 years to reach its tip. Its ink was made of light, and the pen began to write simply because Allah commanded it. When the tablet was completed, the pen dried out and was finished.

This week, I would like to create a story which plays on that pen. What would happen if the ink had dripped, creating a similar, but less powerful pen? Who might discover the pen; how might he or she use it?


Adam and Hawa
In much the same way as the Genesis account, Adam and Hawa (Eve) are dismissed from Paradise after being tempted by the serpent, with the aid of Iblis, Satan. However, in this case, the four characters are cast out separately, each from a different gate. As a result, Adam and Hawa are not reunited until 200 years after their fall.

The legend speaks of the sexual immorality of Adam and Hawa during their time apart. I would like to further explain this story, perhaps taking it in a different direction. What obstacles prevented Adam and Hawa from coming together sooner? How were those obstacles overcome?

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