Scheherazade
The title of this article is ambiguous. For other meanings, see Scheherazade (disambiguation).
Scheherazade (also Shahrasad or Shehrezâd, from Persian شهرزاد, DMG Šahrzād, 'Daughter/Beast of the Empire') is one of the main characters from the frame story of the Persian Tales of the Thousand and One Nights. She is the daughter of the vizier of the Persian king Shahryâr (Persian شهريار, DMG Šahryār, 'Friend of the Empire'), who was betrayed by his consort. That she had become involved with a black slave was, in his eyes, a particularly shameful offence. Convinced that there is no faithful wife on earth, Shahryâr resolves never to be deceived by a woman again. Therefore, he marries a new woman every day, whom he has killed the next morning.
To put an end to this goings-on, Scheherazade has her father give herself to the king as a wife. During the night she begins to tell the king a story, the plot of which is interrupted the next morning. Curious to know the end of the story, King Shahryâr lets her live. Sheherazade is assisted by her sister Dinharazade, who asks her every night to continue the story or to tell a new one.
This kind of storytelling goes on for 1001 nights, during which Scheherazade gives birth to three children. In the end, King Shahryâr is convinced of his wife's fidelity and so impressed by her wisdom that he lets her live.
The story of Scheherazade and Shahryâr goes back to an ancient Persian collection of fairy tales called Persian هزار افسانه, DMG Hezār Afsāna, 'A Thousand Fairy Tales'.
Portrait of Sophie Gengembre Anderson
Questions and Answers
Q: Who is Scheherazade?
A: Scheherazade is a legendary Persian queen who is the storyteller in One Thousand and One Nights.
Q: What is the story of One Thousand and One Nights about?
A: The story tells of an Arabian king who married a young girl every night and would have her head chopped off the next day. Scheherazade tells stories to the king to keep him interested and prolong her life.
Q: How many women had the Arabian king killed before meeting Scheherazade?
A: The Arabian king had already killed 3000 women before meeting Scheherazade.
Q: Why did Scheherazade tell stories to the Arabian king?
A: Scheherazade told stories to the Arabian king to keep him interested and prolong her life.
Q: How long did Scheherazade keep telling stories to the Arabian king?
A: Scheherazade kept telling stories to the Arabian king for 1001 nights.
Q: Did the Arabian king fall in love with Scheherazade?
A: Yes, the Arabian king fell in love with Scheherazade.
Q: What was the outcome for Scheherazade?
A: The Arabian king did not have Scheherazade executed, and they had three children together.
