Exploring New Kurdish Narratives from the Tales of Beber-e Bayan, Borzou, and Fouladvand and Contrasting Them with Persian Naqqāli Narratives

Popular culture and folklore constitute integral components of a nation's literature, offering a rich tapestry of diversity. Within Iran's folklore, heroic tales hold significant importance, with some narratives enduring through generations. Among these, the stories of Beber Bayan and the battle between Borzou and Fouladvand stand out as renowned heroic sagas, often depicted in poetic form and found in numerous Naqqāli scrolls. The former recounts Rostam's legendary encounter with a fearsome dragon in India during his youth, while the latter narrates the epic clash between Borzou and Fouladvand, marking the inception of the elaborate Borzouname narratives. This article presents findings from field research examining two oral renditions of the tales of Beber Bayan and the battle between Borzou and Fouladvand as narrated by a Kurdish storyteller. These narratives exhibit notable divergences from the versions found in traditional scrolls. The research outcomes indicate that the Kurdish oral retelling of these stories showcases and more simple and straightforward expression compared to their Persian counterparts. The narrator selectively excludes minor characters and less significant details in the written Persian sources, resulting in a more engaging and captivating narrative for the audience.