His Dark Materials
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His Dark Materials
(Expanded plot and history)
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The poem had a highly episodic structure, with several twists and turns. Many fabulous creatures and outlandish situations characterised the trials the lovers endured in their quest.<ref name="TSC29">{{Ref|book|7|29}}</ref> A translation of the poem was made into French but it wasn't thought to be very accurate.<ref name="TSC11">{{Ref|book|7|11}}</ref>
 
The poem had a highly episodic structure, with several twists and turns. Many fabulous creatures and outlandish situations characterised the trials the lovers endured in their quest.<ref name="TSC29">{{Ref|book|7|29}}</ref> A translation of the poem was made into French but it wasn't thought to be very accurate.<ref name="TSC11">{{Ref|book|7|11}}</ref>
   
===Plot===
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==Plot==
 
The story followed the many trials of Jahan and Rukhsana in their attempts to gain possession of a garden where precious roses grew and to defeat Rukhsana's uncle, the sorcerer Kourash. In one episode, Jahan harnessed a winged horse to rescue Rukhsana from imprisonment on the moon by the enchantress Shahzada, Queen of the Night. He tricked her by tying a clever knot in a silk sash that she could not undo and then escaping whilst she was distracted.
 
The story followed the many trials of Jahan and Rukhsana in their attempts to gain possession of a garden where precious roses grew and to defeat Rukhsana's uncle, the sorcerer Kourash. In one episode, Jahan harnessed a winged horse to rescue Rukhsana from imprisonment on the moon by the enchantress Shahzada, Queen of the Night. He tricked her by tying a clever knot in a silk sash that she could not undo and then escaping whilst she was distracted.
   
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Once the lovers entered the garden, guided by the king of the birds (the [[Simurgh]]), they were blessed with visions that 'unfold[ed] like the petal of a rose and reveal[ed] truth after truth', with a description matching the effects of rose oil on the eyes.<ref name="TSC11"/> The story ended with the defeat of Kourash and the lovers marrying to live happily ever after.<ref name="TSC29"/>
 
Once the lovers entered the garden, guided by the king of the birds (the [[Simurgh]]), they were blessed with visions that 'unfold[ed] like the petal of a rose and reveal[ed] truth after truth', with a description matching the effects of rose oil on the eyes.<ref name="TSC11"/> The story ended with the defeat of Kourash and the lovers marrying to live happily ever after.<ref name="TSC29"/>
   
===History===
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==History==
 
A copy of the poem was among the belongings found by [[Lyra Silvertongue]] in [[Anthony Hassall]]'s rucksack and subsequently fell into the possession of [[Malcolm Polstead]]. It was contained in a poorly-bound book, with fragile paper, and bore signs of extensive reading and clumsy repair. The pages were dog-eared and the text was annotated in pencil, also in Tajik.<ref name="TSC8"/>
 
A copy of the poem was among the belongings found by [[Lyra Silvertongue]] in [[Anthony Hassall]]'s rucksack and subsequently fell into the possession of [[Malcolm Polstead]]. It was contained in a poorly-bound book, with fragile paper, and bore signs of extensive reading and clumsy repair. The pages were dog-eared and the text was annotated in pencil, also in Tajik.<ref name="TSC8"/>
   

Revision as of 08:45, 27 May 2020

Jahan and Rukhsana was nearly a thousand-year-old epic poem written in the Tajik language and revered across Central Asia in Lyra's world.[1] It was about two lovers who searched for a rose garden. When the two lovers entered the garden, they were blessed with visions rather like those given to shamans from rose oil.

The poem had a highly episodic structure, with several twists and turns. Many fabulous creatures and outlandish situations characterised the trials the lovers endured in their quest.[2] A translation of the poem was made into French but it wasn't thought to be very accurate.[3]

Plot

The story followed the many trials of Jahan and Rukhsana in their attempts to gain possession of a garden where precious roses grew and to defeat Rukhsana's uncle, the sorcerer Kourash. In one episode, Jahan harnessed a winged horse to rescue Rukhsana from imprisonment on the moon by the enchantress Shahzada, Queen of the Night. He tricked her by tying a clever knot in a silk sash that she could not undo and then escaping whilst she was distracted.

In another episode, Rukhsana's shadow was stolen and she had to journey to the land of the zarghuls, shadow-eating devils, to retrieve it, making a significant sacrifice in the process. Another featured Rukhsana's use of a forbidden amultent to overcome the fire-fiend Razvani.[2]

Once the lovers entered the garden, guided by the king of the birds (the Simurgh), they were blessed with visions that 'unfold[ed] like the petal of a rose and reveal[ed] truth after truth', with a description matching the effects of rose oil on the eyes.[3] The story ended with the defeat of Kourash and the lovers marrying to live happily ever after.[2]

History

A copy of the poem was among the belongings found by Lyra Silvertongue in Anthony Hassall's rucksack and subsequently fell into the possession of Malcolm Polstead. It was contained in a poorly-bound book, with fragile paper, and bore signs of extensive reading and clumsy repair. The pages were dog-eared and the text was annotated in pencil, also in Tajik.[1]

Malcolm thought story almost insufferable, but redeemed by poet's rapturous description of the rose garden itself. He and Asta identified a number of possible parallels with their own experiences.[2]

Appearances

References