Week 5 Essay: Arabian Nights

Aladdin Arabian Palace

Source: Deviant Art

Because I grew up loving the Disney version of Aladdin, I was quickly drawn to the unit Arabian Nights. I always related to Jasmine because she was "brown" like me. Haha I even dressed up as her for Halloween when I was six years old. Although I was not able to read the first half of this unit because of how crazy busy my life has been, I still enjoyed reading the second half of it because it was the part of this unit that I was looking forward to reading. Before reading the story about Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, I expected it to vary from the Disney version we are all familiar with. Obviously the Disney version added characters and scenes to this story to make it more marketable such as Aladdin's monkey friend Abu, but I loved the original story. I think I may have liked it a little bit more than the Disney version. I think my favorite part about it was the magician throughout the story first plotting to use Aladdin to get the lamp, and then later trying to steal it from Aladdin after he learns of his riches and success from the genie in the lamp. It made me curious as to why Aladdin was chosen by the magician to try to find the lamp. Maybe he thought a careless boy like him would be easily manipulated into doing the magician's dirty work. I would definitely recommend this unit to everyone in class because I think it is fun to go into a unit expecting something and coming out completely surprised after you have finished reading. Also, I do not think there is a necessity for more information about the unit. I think the information provided is enough to draw the reader in if this is a unit that seems interesting to them.

Week 5 Storytelling: Aladdin

Aladdin in the Cave of Wonders

Source: Animated Views

"Daddy, daddy, daddy! Tell me a bedtime story." Little Savannah begged and pleaded.

"Alright, alright. What kind of story do you want to hear?" Savannah's father was trying to quickly think of something. "Hopefully nothing about princesses." He thought to himself.

"Ohh, I know! Tell me the story about Princess Jasmine from the Aladdin movie! Pleaseeeee!"

Great. Savannah's dad quickly picked his brain for the story of Princess Jasmine. "That's the story with the genie and the lamp right?"

"Yeah and Princess Jasmine and her palace. Come on daddy, tell me the story!"

"Okay, how about this. How about I tell you the story of Aladdin when he found the lamp? The REAL story."

"Ooo the real story?! Yeah, tell me, tell me!"

"Here goes nothing...


For there once was a boy named Aladdin
Whose father he sure did sadden
His boy gave him trouble
So he soon died, and was buried beneath the rubble

One day, along came a magician
Who lured Aladdin into submission
"Young man, I am your father's brother,
Will you please go fetch your mother?"

"I have come to help you,
Let us go shopping and find you a new hair do."
Little did Aladdin know,
That this magician was a no good lying foe

"Into the cave you go,
And follow the light from which the cave will glow.
It is here that you will find the lamp,
Make haste, and watch your step on that ramp."

Aladdin had spotted the sought out beloved treasure
And when the magician noticed, he laid on the pressure.
"Alas, you have found what I have been searching for,
Hand it here so I can seal this cave door."

No way, no how, not before I step out.
Let me out first, or I will remain and allow you to continue to pout.
The magician grew angry, and before Aladdin could react,
The stone was rolled over the cave mouth and unable to retract.

Just as he was getting to the good part, he could tell his little princess was falling asleep. "We'll finish the rest tomorrow night princess."

"Okay, good night daddy."

Author's Note:
I pretty much kept the story, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp Part 1, the same although I did not get nearly as far into the story. If I did, it would have been a pretty long poem. I thought telling this story from the point of view of a father telling his daughter a bed time story would be fitting since this is a story about Aladdin. Many people are familiar with this story, but probably do not know the actual story it is based on. It has quite a few differences, but it is still a great story!

The Arabian Nights' Entertainment by Andrew Lang (1898). Web Source: Arabian Nights Unit

Week 5 Reading Diary: Arabian Nights

Arabian Nights

The story about Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp is a little different from the Disney version. The beginning of this story tells of a false uncle, who is really a magician in search of magical lamp. He tricks Aladdin into searching for the lamp and he trapped. Aladdin finds the lamp and is able to summon the genie from the magical ring the magician gave him to get out of the cave. Aladdin's mom is the one who rubs the lamp and summons the genie. Aladdin uses this genie to grant him wishes to impress the sultan so he can marry the sultan's beautiful daughter. He builds a beautiful palace and fulfills all the sultan's wishes and marries the princess. The magician learns of Aladdin's success and determines that he must have found the lamp. He plots to steal the lamp. He is successful in capturing the lamp, and he also steals the palace and Aladdin's wife. Aladdin is able to defeat the magician, save his wife from the evil magician trying to turn her into his wife, and live in peace.