And the Mountains Echoed starts out with Saboor, Abdullah and Pari's father, telling them a bedtime story. The story is a folktale telling the story of a man named Baba Ayub. Baba Ayub has five children, three sons and two daughters. On the outside he appears to love all of his children equally, but he secretly loves his son Qais the most. One day a monster called the div arrives in Baba Ayub's village, seeking to take one child from the village. The div chooses Baba to have to give up a child. Unfortunately, Baba Ayub must give up Qais. Several years later, Baba Ayub sets out on a quest to bring back his son.
Wait a minute...a quest?
Yes! This folk tale follows the five guidelines written in How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster:
1. A Quester- In this folk tale, the quester is Baba Ayub.
2. A Place to Go- Baba Ayub is journeying to the lair of the div, which is located on a mountain.
3. A Stated Reason to Go- Baba Ayub sets out on his journey with the intention of returning to the village with his son, rescuing him from the hands of the div.
4. Challenges and Trials En Route- Once Baba Ayub arrives at the mountainous lair, he is greeted by the div. Baba threatens to kill the div, who then offers to show him something. The div takes him to a wonderful garden where he sees many children happily playing, including his son Qais. The div forces a decision upon Baba Ayub, will he let Qais continue living in happiness in the garden, or take him home to a life of poverty?
5. The Real Reason to go is always... Self-Knowledge!- When faced with the div's question Baba Ayub chooses for Qais to stay with the div. He makes this decision out of love, and passes the div's test. With this, Baba Ayub learns that he is a strong individual and a good father. He learns that he must sometimes make tough decisions to make his children happy.
Wait a minute...a quest?
Yes! This folk tale follows the five guidelines written in How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster:
1. A Quester- In this folk tale, the quester is Baba Ayub.
2. A Place to Go- Baba Ayub is journeying to the lair of the div, which is located on a mountain.
3. A Stated Reason to Go- Baba Ayub sets out on his journey with the intention of returning to the village with his son, rescuing him from the hands of the div.
4. Challenges and Trials En Route- Once Baba Ayub arrives at the mountainous lair, he is greeted by the div. Baba threatens to kill the div, who then offers to show him something. The div takes him to a wonderful garden where he sees many children happily playing, including his son Qais. The div forces a decision upon Baba Ayub, will he let Qais continue living in happiness in the garden, or take him home to a life of poverty?
5. The Real Reason to go is always... Self-Knowledge!- When faced with the div's question Baba Ayub chooses for Qais to stay with the div. He makes this decision out of love, and passes the div's test. With this, Baba Ayub learns that he is a strong individual and a good father. He learns that he must sometimes make tough decisions to make his children happy.