Nashuatelegraph

Marshall takes on Armenian folklore

Published: Sunday, September 16, 2007

"The Flower of Paradise and Other Armenian Tales" by
Bonnie C. Marshall; Libraries Unlimited; cloth; 203
pages; $35.

From her home in Meredith, Bonnie Marshall travels across the world
in stories.

Her previous translations of folklore include "The Snow Maiden and
Other Russian Tales" and "Tales from the Heart of the Balkans." Her
new book takes her, and readers, to Armenia, which – in case your
geography is as vague as mine – has "served for centuries as a buffer
zone between Europe and Asia." Once a stop on the Silk Road, it
"extended from the Black to the Caspian Sea and from the Mediterranean
Sea to Iran." Today, the Republic of Armenia, less than 12,000 square
miles, sits south of Georgia, north of Iran, west of Azerbaijan and
east of Turkey. Mount Ararat, where Noah’s ark may have landed, was
once part of Armenia and is still considered sacred territory by
Armenians.

So much for the geography lesson. Marshall’s new book, "The Flower of
Paradise and Other Armenian Tales," reveals the culture as only
folktales can. These old stories speak to the values of those who pass
them on from generation to generation. By collecting these stories,
Marshall – a Russian scholar and museum teacher for the
N.H. Historical Society – says to readers: See how the Armenian people
are like us. See how their folk lore mirrors ours in some ways, and
deviates from ours in other ways. See how, just like us, Armenians
teach their children through myths and legends, animal tales, fairy
tales, and cautionary tales about everyday life and foolish behavior.
Understand this culture by examining its roots.

So, yes, this is an important, educational book, complete with
glossary, bibliography, recommended readings, index and authentic
recipes from the old country, including pilaf, plaki and
baklava. Eight pages of color photographs show readers something of
the people, architecture and landscape of the country. Mostly,
though, this is a story book, full of lively, exotic tales suitable
for all ages. Parents and teachers might read some of the shorter ones
to very small children. Teachers in elementary, middle and high school
might use them as models for writing, as well as complements to
studies of the region and its history. Like all folktales, these
reveal human foibles and recount adventures. Some include morals, ripe
for discussion. Others pile one lie on another to create the tallest
of tall tales. Some poke fun at "Silly Pugi," who makes lots of
mistakes. They include once upon a time, translated as "once there was
and was not." They include happily ever after, translated as, "Three
apples fell from heaven – one for the taleteller and two for the
audience," or "They attained their heart’s desire. May you attain your
heart’s desire, too."

The title story, "The Flower of Paradise," explains the change of
seasons with the familiar cast of a beautiful maiden, a monster and a
hero. It includes the familiar plot of a quest, kidnapping and rescue
by brave, handsome Arin-Armanelin, who marries the maiden and brings
spring back to the world. "Nature spread a beautiful carpet of roses
and other flowers at their feet. People and animals, birds and even
choruses of ants sang merry songs and hymns to them. Above them in the
heavens stretched a marvelous bright rainbow, and the fresh spring sun
smiled down on the earth."

The stories vary widely – some silly, some dark, some long and
episodic, some quick as winks. Here’s a short one that made me smile –
and ponder. With hints of the "Boy Who Cried Wolf," "Little Red Riding
Hood," "Three Little Pigs" and "Little Boy Blue," "The Wolf and the
Lamb" is a fresh take on the relationship between wolves and lambs,
how clever trumps big and ferocious, and how vanity leads to trouble.

A young lamb once lived in a shed. A wicked wolf got into the shed and
grabbed the little lamb.

The lamb fell down on its knees and said, "God has placed me in your
power. Eat me up, but before doing so, please fulfill my last wish –
play a song for me on your trumpet. My ancestors told me that wolves
are great trumpet players."

The wolf was flattered. He squatted down and howled at the top of his
lungs.

His song awakened the dogs. The dogs rushed to the wolf and bit him.

The wolf ran out of the shed and rushed to the top of the hill. He sat
down and began weeping and beating himself. "I am worthy of that
attack. Who on earth would ever claim that I was a trumpeter? I have
always been a butcher and the son of a butcher."

Maybe we can’t escape our essential nature. Maybe we shouldn’t be
swayed by flattery. Maybe if we’re going to eat a lamb, we should be
quiet about it. I’m just glad that smart little lamb got away!

Marshall, with editorial help from scholar Virginia Tashjian, who
happens to be Armenian, fills these pages with delightful stories. In
her introduction, Tashjian explains why it’s important for children to
be exposed to the folklore of other cultures. She writes, "The
universality of the story is rampant in these tales of Armenians. Yes,
violence there is, but wisdom and idealism are ever present as
well. The clever Armenian peasant working in his fields is not much
different from the Norwegian Viking crossing the fjords in his need
and emotions. Truly, the tapestry of folk heritage proves the richness
of the brotherhood of man."

"The Flower of Paradise" belongs to a series of folktale collections
published by Libraries Unlimited. Other books in the series feature
stories from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Greece, Mexico, Ireland,
Australia, Cuba, England, Germany, Brazil and even America.

Rebecca Rule, a writer who lives in Northwood, writes this column
weekly except the last Sunday of the month. Her e-mail address is
rebeccarule@metrocast.net.