What are the representative works of Arabic literature?

Arabian Nights (or Arabian Nights) is a masterpiece of Arabic literature and tells the most interesting folk stories. It has been translated into many languages, and some stories have been adapted into plays and movies. This work is popular all over the world because of its vivid plot, tortuous story and profound intellectual interpretation of human emotions. The story structure with Arabian Nights as the background is one of its artistic features. Interlocking, ups and downs, grab the reader's heartstrings. The content of the story is unfolded layer by layer, and the contradictions and conflicts are cleverly set. Arabian Nights absorbed some stories of Carriles and Dimunai, as well as Greek mythology, Indian and Persian literature. Among the characters, men are kings, ministers, thieves, riffraff, lazy people, chivalrous people, businessmen, craftsmen, conceited people, honest people and so on. And women are lovers, schemers, adulterers, liars, slave girls, dutiful sons, etc.

Generally speaking, the story of Arabian Nights should be divided into three parts: the first part is about India and Persia, which was translated into Arabic in the 8th century; The second is to describe the amorous feelings of Baghdad, the capital of Abbas. The author not only vividly reflects the prosperity of Baghdad, but also endows it with creativity and imagination. The third is to describe the life in Egypt from 14 to 15 century. During this period, Egyptian writers revised and supplemented the first two parts of Arabian Nights. On this basis, some people think that Arabian Nights is a landscape painting reflecting medieval Egyptian society.

"Arabian Nights" realistically describes the street life in medieval Egypt, including the adventures of businessmen, the work of workers, anecdotes of capable people and so on. There are detailed and vivid descriptions of grand celebrations, weddings, congratulations to new students and sacrifices to ward off evil spirits. Interpersonal relationships at that time, such as the relationship between family members, the relationship between father and son, and the relationship between monarch and minister, were also expounded. In a word, Arabian Nights is an encyclopedia of life in ancient Egypt.

However, the story of "Arabian Nights" is not limited to the Egyptian region, but also goes to other foreign countries such as China. The characters in the book often travel around the world and describe the scenery and human feelings of various countries vividly. In addition to market transactions, the protagonist also explores seclusion, meets important people, falls in love, gets married and has children. Myths and fairy tale metaphors in the book are also rich in alarming poems and idioms. The magical realm it created and its magical objects, such as flying carpet, magic lamp and Solomon's magic bottle, became the source of literary creation in later generations.

There are different opinions about the original author of The Arabian Nights. Most scholars believe that this book was not written in the same country at the same time, but accumulated and expanded for a long time and generations, and finally became today's masterpiece. The author of "Arabian Nights" sympathizes with the weak and the lower classes, hates high officials and generous salaries, lashes out at extortion and extravagance, and praises sincerity, loyalty and poverty. The author often conceives a savior for the poor, and evil is rewarded with evil. The plot is very human and touching.

Illustration of Arabian Nights —— Scheherazade tells a story to the king.