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Year 8

Hanan Al-Shaykh's ‘The Fisherman and the Jinni’: understanding the story

I can explain what happens in Hanan Al-Shaykh's ‘The Fisherman and the Jinni’.

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Year 8

Hanan Al-Shaykh's ‘The Fisherman and the Jinni’: understanding the story

I can explain what happens in Hanan Al-Shaykh's ‘The Fisherman and the Jinni’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'One Thousand and One Nights' is a collection of Middle Eastern folktales.
  2. 'One Thousand and One Nights' uses a frame story: a main story around shorter ones, all told by one person, Shahrazad.
  3. Shahrazad tells these stories to her husband, Shahrayar, ending each installment on a cliffhanger.
  4. In this way, Shahrayar, desperate to know the rest of the story, puts off killing her (his usual custom with his wives).
  5. 'The Fisherman and the Jinni' is one of the stories Shahrazad tells her husband.

Keywords

  • Jinni - a supernatural spirit with magical powers

  • Folktales - stories that are passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth

  • Prophet - a person who is able to communicate the will of God

  • Sage - a wise person

  • Frame story - a main story that surrounds shorter stories

Common misconception

'The Fisherman the and Jinni' is a framing story because there is a story within it.

The story of King Yunan and his sage is a story within a story. In 'One Thousand and One Nights', the frame story is only that of Shahrazad and Shahrayar. This frame story punctuates all the tales, with dialogue between husband and wife throughout.

Consider how you will read the story with your pupils. How long do you anticipate each section might take? What words might you need to define? What further questions do you wish to ask? How will you prepare your pupils for some of the more sensitive aspects of the story?
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the extract ('The Fisherman and the Jinni') from 'One Thousand and One Nights' by Hanan Al-Shaykh published by Bloomsbury in 2013.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each text type to its definition ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire').
Correct Answer:myth,stories about how the world was made, and what it is like
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stories about how the world was made, and what it is like

Correct Answer:legend,a traditional story, often focused on fictional historical characters
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a traditional story, often focused on fictional historical characters

Correct Answer:fable,a story which has a moral, often with characters who are animals
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a story which has a moral, often with characters who are animals

Correct Answer:folktale,a story that is passed on via word of mouth through generations
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a story that is passed on via word of mouth through generations

Q2.
If we describe someone as sage, what are we saying about them? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')
that they are happy
that they are satisfied
Correct answer: that they are wise
that they are old
that they are kind
Q3.
Which sentences use the word 'intrigue' (or a form of it) correctly? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire').
The game wasn't intrigue to me, and I didn't want play it again.
Correct answer: I couldn't put the book down because the story was so intriguing.
I nearly fell asleep during the film because it was so intriguing.
I ran up and down the street, intriguing all the way.
Correct answer: I loved every lesson because there were always intriguing problems to solve.
Q4.
Which sentences use the word 'evade' (or a form of it) correctly? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')
Correct answer: I hadn't done my homework so I tried to evade my teacher.
I couldn't wait to see my friends and made sure to evade them at the cinema.
I jumped over the fence evadingly, making sure everyone saw.
Correct answer: I kept nice and quiet hoping to evade attention.
Q5.
If we describe someone as a formidable storyteller, what are we saying about them? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')
They are a boring storyteller.
They are a famous storyteller.
They are a funny storyteller.
Correct answer: They are a powerful storyteller.
Q6.
A is an exciting end to a story which leaves the audience wanting to know what happens next. ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')
Correct Answer: cliffhanger, cliff hanger

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'One Thousand and One Nights', why does Shahrazad tell stories night after night? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')
it is her job
her husband orders her to
Correct answer: to evade death
to entertain her sister
she wants to be famous
Q2.
In 'One Thousand and One Nights', which story is the example of the frame story? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')
The Fisherman and the Jinni
King Yunan and the Sage
There are multiple frame stories.
Correct answer: Shahrazad and Shahrayar
Q3.
What is true of 'One Thousand and One Nights'? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')
Correct answer: It is a collection of folktales.
Correct answer: It includes a frame story.
Correct answer: Each story ends on a cliffhanger.
There are one thousand and one stories.
King Shahrayar orders his courtiers to tell him the stories.
Q4.
A is a device whereby a main story surrounds shorter stories ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire').
Correct Answer: frame story, frame narrative
Q5.
Match each character from 'One Thousand and One Nights' to what we find out about them ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire').
Correct Answer:Shahrazad,a formidable story teller
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a formidable story teller

Correct Answer:King Shahrayer ,a tyrannical king
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a tyrannical king

Correct Answer:the jinni ,a supernatural spirit
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a supernatural spirit

Correct Answer:the fisherman ,a clever man who is rewarded
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a clever man who is rewarded

Correct Answer:King Yunan ,a person who listens to poor advice
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a person who listens to poor advice

Correct Answer:the sage,a person who teaches his king a lesson
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a person who teaches his king a lesson

Q6.
Starting with the first, put the plot points from 'The Fisherman and the Jinni' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') in chronological order.
1 - The fisherman finds a jinni and releases him from his jar.
2 - The jinni threatens to kill the fisherman.
3 - The fisherman tricks the jinni into returning to the jar.
4 - The fisherman tells the jinni a story.
5 - The jinni considers the lesson of the story.
6 - The jinni rewards the fisherman with jewels.
7 - The fisherman and the jinni part ways.