Examining Narrative Elements and the Impact of Rewriting Saadi’s Gulistan Anecdotes in Children’s and Adolescent Literature

Abstract

One of the common techniques in children’s and adolescent literature is the rewriting and recreation of classical and contemporary texts in simplified language for young audiences. The necessity of this practice lies in familiarizing children and adolescents with classical literature and helping them better understand valuable works composed in an archaic style and language, filled with ethical, didactic, cultural, and social themes. The narrative structure and moral content of Saadi’s prose and poetry have consistently provided a suitable foundation for adaptation by rewriting authors. In recent years, many writers have turned to the rewriting and recreation of his precious works. In this study, using a descriptive-analytical method, the tale "The Short and Lowly Prince and His Brothers” from the first chapter of Saadi’s Gulistan is critically examined alongside its rewritings for children, with a focus on narrative elements. In most of these rewritings, the thematic content of the story remains consistent with the original text, and in the majority of cases, only the language has been modernized and simplified. There is little deviation from the original narrative.