Allusions in Haroun & the Sea of Stories
Biography of Salmon Rushdie
Author Profile
Kashmir
(Couchemar = nightmare) - http://columbia.thefreedictionary.com/Vale+of+Kashmir
Dull Lake – Lake Dahl ~ There are many pictures available, but the sites (mostly tourist
sites) keep changing. We recommend you use Google.
A brief description of a journey to Kashmir which includes a bus ride ~
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~pm9k/mcalk/Words/kash.html
Map of India, showing the areas alluded to in the text.
Note: Pakistan disputes the claims India has on Kashmir so maps of the area often reflect the
political position of the mapmakers.
Allusions - People, Places, Things
The allusions serve both to entertain (readers of all ages who recognize an allusion tend to be
pleased with their flashes of erudition) and underscore the universality of stories.
About the Names in this Book ~ this section appears at the end of the novel and covers
many, but by no means all, of the place and character names.
Other words and names & our additions:
le cauchemar = nightmare (French) ~ see p.40 ~ Kashmir above
Alifbay ~ explained in the author's appendix, but this name also should remind the
reader of Pig-Latin ~ Alifbay (Alibag?)
(http://www.onesmartclick.com/alibag/alibag.html) (To me, this entire sight seems to
capture a spirit that runs throughout Haroun)
Two of the key names in the book - Haroun and Rashid - are taken from one name,
Haroun Al-Rashid, who was both the leading character in the Arabian Night’s tales and a
famous ruler (the Caliph of the Abbasids from 766 to 809). Like the rulers of Kahani, he
gave control of state affairs to his Grand Vizier (the Walrus). Haroun was a patron of the
arts and of learning and somewhat the antithesis of some current Arab rulers. Read about
both characters at The Arabian Nights Resource Centre.
Alice in Wonderland ~ Rushdie acknowledges an admiration of and debt to this classic
by Lewis Carroll. In addition to reading or reviewing that short classic and Through the
Looking Glass, you should investigate resources to be found at the Least Tern study guide
to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Some specific allusions that should attract your
attention are:
the Walrus
The Pages as compared to the Queen and her Court (cards) ~ both are extended
metaphors used in similar ways
the Adventure itself, which takes Haroun (and the reader) into a new, dreamlike and
"mixed up" land in which he both errs terribly and grows measurably through his own
defiant and decisive actions. Consider as well his drinking of magic liquids as compared
to Alice's. The nature of the Court in Wonderland should be compared to the leadership
of Gup.
the Language of wordplay, puns, and seeming nonsense.
Logic - is logic present in a world with characters named Buttoo, Butt, and Iff and a
game called "Iffing and Butting"? Where is it operable? What are the rules? What are
the operators?
Time, especially time stopped (The Mad Tea Party and the word-play involving time).
The Arabian Nights ~ the one thousand and one stories told by Shaharazad to the
Caliph to save the lives of herself, her sister and her father. These stories can be found on
the web by visiting this listing of e-texts from the Open Directory. They include the stories
of Sinbad, whose impossible adventures in far-off lands are also alluded to throughout
Haroun. See also the note about the name Haroun, above. A particularly readable version
of Sinbad is available here.
The Arabian Nights Resource Centre (caution - this has a definite point of view - it does
not seem, however, to preach)
A Study Guide with shortened versions.
At this site, a commercial site for pinball machines, you will find some neat soundclips
you can use in Haroun or Arabian Nights presentations. Scroll down.
Kathasaritsagara, the original "Ocean of Stories” (a 900 year old collection of Kashmiri
stories some of which can be found at http://koausa.org/Folk/)
The Wizard of Oz by Frank O. Baum ~ Another classic to which Rushdie is indebted.
Dorothy's adventures in search of happiness, a way home and a happy ending are alluded
to throughout Haroun. Some specific allusions that should attract your attention are:
the Journey itself ~ the suspension of time and the element of speed in Haroun's
journeys with Butt echo Dorothy's tornadoic ride. Like Haroun, Dorothy finds
companions over whom she gradually assumes leadership, with whom she completes a
dangerous task, and who assist her in her final journey home.
Characters from this and other tales of Oz ~ flying monkeys, lions, the Wizard (many
similarities to Khattam-Shud and his shadow), the soldiers of Oz.
The Beatles ~ This British singing group's song entitled "I am the Walrus" (I.M.D.
Walrus) from the Magical Mystery Tour Album, 1976, contains references to the Walrus
and the Eggman (close!) ~
The Rubyiat of Omar Kayam ~ this collection of short verse poems is romantic poetry in
short form. Translated by Fitzgerald, it has long been available to Western students of Eastern
cultures.
Fairy Tales - Journeys, endings, quests, sons in search of adventure, bad men doing bad
things illogically ~ all of these belong to the fairy tale tradition.
Cartoons and Comic books ~ see if you can identify some allusions to Batman and his
various foes, to Looney Tune characters and other characters from old cartoons.