Sohrab and Rustum... a Persian (Iran) Literature This is the summary of the story Sohrab and Rustum by Firdausi with illustrations to make the viewers be more interested on the presentation. The presentation began with a song entitled Tears in Heaven because the life of the author of the song is related to the story Sohrab and Rustum. This connection is about the relationship of father and son. It also has an activity that will test the understanding of those people whosoever will see this presentation. If you were a student, you could use it for your report. If you were a teacher, you could also use it for your lesson. Here's the beginning of the story: The people of the province of Seistan rejoiced the birth of Rustum, the son of Zal, because when he came into the world, he was as strong as a one-year old child. While he was yet a small boy, his father called him and said “My son, thou are now strong as an elephant and fit for all the hardships of war, though thy lips still breathe the scent of milk and thy heart turns towards boyish games and gladness. Can I thee to the war to cope with heroes?” “I have no wish or pleasure or a life of ease,” answered Rustum. “Give me a horse and the club of Sahm, my grandfather, and I will go forth against the enemies of my country.” Zal gave him the famous club of Sahm and told him to choose one from all the horses in his possession. As each horse passed, Rustum laid his strong hand on its back to test its power of bearing weight. But each horse sank under his powerful touch and fell to the ground. At last, he saw a strong young mare followed by a colt. He prepared his noose to take a colt (Rakush or the Lightning was its name), in spite of the warning that the mare had already killed several man who had tried to seize the young horse. With a sudden cast of the noose he held the colt fast, but the furious mare attacked him with teeth and forefeet, biting and striking in her attempt to crush his head. Then Rustum gave his famous battle cry, half stunning the creature with his frightful sound, and striking her on the neck with his clenched first, he smote her to the ground. But Rakush proved no easy captive, and it was long before, Rustum had tamed him and could say, “now am I prepared with a horse after my own heawrt to join the field of warriors.” One day Rustum was an honored guest at the king’s palace in a far away city. Here he saw the king’s daughter, Tamineh, whom he loved for her beauty and wisdom. So they were married, for the king was glad to make an alliance with Rustum. The people rejoiced to hear the news.

1. Prepared by:
SHEILA MAY M. CABILING

2. “Tears of Heaven”
ERIC CLAPTON
Would you know my name…
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same…
If I saw you heaven?
I must be strong…and carry on…
Cause I know I don’t belong…
Here in heaven…

3. Would you hold my hand…
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand…
If I saw you in heaven?
I’ll find my way…
Through night and day
Cause I know I just can’t stay
Here in heaven…

4. Firdausi

5. The people of the province of
Seistan rejoiced the birth of
Rustum, the son of Zal, because
when he came into the world, he
was as strong as a one-year old
child.
While he was yet a small boy, his
father called him and said…

6. “My son, thou are now
strong as an elephant
and fit for all the
hardships of war, though
thy lips still breathe the
scent of milk and thy
heart turns towards
boyish
games
and
gladness. Can I thee to
the war to cope with
heroes?”

7. “I have no wish or
pleasure or a life of ease.
Give me a horse and the
club of Sahm, my
grandfather, and I will go
forth against the enemies
of my country.”

8. One day Rustum was an
honored guest at the king’s
palace in a far away city.
Here he saw the king’s
daughter, Tamineh, whom
he loved for her beauty and
wisdom.

9. So they were
married, for
the king was
glad to make
an alliance
with Rustum.

10. Time came when Rustum had to
go back to his own city. He was
sad and could not take his wife
with him. He did not wish that
his people should know about
his marriage for they expected
him to marry a maiden of his
own people.

11. So he took a tender
farewell of Tamineh and
gave her an amulet made
of onyx stone which he
got from his arm, and
said:

12. “If Heaven should grant
thee a little daughter in
my absence bind this onyx
in her hair; but if a son,
place it upon his arm, then
shall he be strong of limb
as Sahm, my grandsire,
and graceful of speech as
Zal, my father.”

13. After sometime, Tamineh
gave birth to a lovely boy
who smiled at the world
from the moment he came
to it; and so they called
him Sohrab, or the child
of smiles.
He was as mighty as his father. When he
grew to nine years, he could fight and ride
better than any grown man in that land.

14. Tamineh was afraid for Rustum will be
proud of such a son and take him from
her. While still a baby she bound the
amulet of onyx on his arm and sent
message to Rustum that a daughter had
been born instead. Rustum was
disappointed for he had hoped for a brave
son; but he sent five jewels for the child
bade the mother to take good care of her.
He was busy in the battlefield and could
not come to see her.

15. When Sohrab was about ten years
of age, he came to his mother one
day and said, “See, I am taller
and stronger than one of the boys
with whom I play; yet, when they
ask me of my race and my
father’s name, I can answer
nothing. Tell me, I pray thee,
who is my sire?

16. And Tamineh answered, “My
son, thy father’s name is
Rustum, and he is the
greatest hero the world has
ever seen.”

17. At last, Sohrab cried,
“Mother, tell me
where my father
is that I may go
to him and fight
by his side.”

18. But Tamineh wept and said, “I
have lost my husband, and
now I shall also lose my only
son? I beg you not to find him
for he will take thee from
me.” Yet even the tears of his
mother did not stop Sohrab
from his purpose.

19. Meantime, in that same
morning’s dawn an anxious
messenger came to the tent
of Rustum and implored
him to come forth and take
up the challenge of the
stranger youth, saying:

20. “O, Rustum, like thy might is
this young man’s. He has the
wild stag’s foot, the lion’s
heart. And he is young, and
Iran’s chiefs are old, or else
too weak; and all eyes turn
to thee.”

21. But Rustum answered: “Not
so, for if the chieftains of
Persia are old, I am older than
they. Let King Kai Kaas
choose one of the younger men
who loves so well to fight
against this youth. What care I
indeed, for Sohrab’s boast!
I would indeed rejoice; and I would send
him forth to war in my stead, while I return
to the house of my father and hang my warworn armor upon his walls.”

22. Then one of the warriors said, “What
then will men say when they hear
what thou, whom Sohrab wished
most to meet in conflict, has turned
thy back upon him? Will they not
say that Rustum’s day is past, and
that he fears to lose his fame by
fighting with younger men?”

23. Rustum was moved by these words and
granted their request.
The Persian ran quickly to the camp
while Rustum prepare himself for the
fight. Rakush fallowed him unbidden
like a faithful hound. He passed
through the watching host and came
between the two armies. He watched
Sohrab as he came toward him.

24. He pitied the youth and while beckoning him to
come forward, he said,
“Young man, the breath of life
is warm; but the grave is cold.
Look at me. I am mighty
stature and clad in mail. I have
fought with many a foe and
never yet been conquered. Take
counsel; leave the Tartar host
and come to me as son to fight
beneath my banner.”

25. Sohrab looked at the mighty figure and as
he looked, a strange hope was born in his
breast. He ran forward and kneeling before
the mighty warrior said,
“Art thou not Rustum?
Speak! Art thou not
he?

26. The aged warrior looked upon him
with eyes of mistrust thinking that
the youth wished to know his name
in order that he might boast of the
fight among his fellows. Then he
said harshly, “Rise! Why do you ask
for Rustum? Rash boy, men look on
Rustum’s face and flee. Fight or
yield!”

27. Sohrab rose up and raised his
head, saying: “Thou wilt not
frighten me so! I’m no girl to
be made pale by words. As for
that victory of which you are
sure, the event will prove to
whom is to fall.

28. So… they fight!

29. The armies held their breath for a
time. The darkness around the
combatants disappeared and the
hosts saw Rustum standing
safely while Sohrab was lying
wounded on the bloody sand.

30. With a bitter smile
Rustum looked down
upon his foe and said,
“Fool, thou art slain by
an unknown hand.”
“Nay. It was not
thou, but the
name of Rustum
that
unmanned
me for a moment.
…the mighty Rustum will
avenge my death –
Rustum, my father, whom
I seek through all the
world.”

31. Then Sohrab rose up his arm and
cried, “Behold this onyx, given
by Rustum to my mother, that
she might bind it on her babe.”

32. Rustum looked and saw
the onyx stone. The
sight struck with cold
horror at his heart. He
stood
for
some
moments and with grief
said. “Oh. Boy – thy
father!” He paused and
fell down by Sohrab’s
side, like dead.

33. Not long after, Sohrab roused
him gently, and when
Rustum realized his awful
deed and took his sword to
slay himself by the side of
his
son,
but
Sohrab
prevented him saying,

34. “Come sit beside me on this and
take. My head betwixt thy hands,
and kiss my cheek and wash them
with thy tears and say: My son!
Quick! Quick! For numbered are
my sands of life. And swift; for
like the lightning to this field. I
came and like the wind I go
away.”

35. Sohrab stroke the famous
horse whom he knew so well
and pitying his father’s
overwhelming grief tried to
comfort him saying: “Death
comes to all men; why then
this grief?”

36. He then implored his father to send
away the forces without the horrors of
a battle and to carry him to his own
palace, the home of white-haired Zal,
and there to raise over him a tomb of
which men might say:
“Sohrab, the mighty Rustum’s son, lies
there, whom his great father did in
ignorance kill.”

37. And so he died; and
Rustum covered his
face
with
his
horseman’s
cloak
and sat motionless
by his side, cold fog
came creeping in
with night from
Oxus.
-FIN-

38. PICTURE SEQUENCE

39. DIALOG
-it is the exact words of a
character in the story or
play. When two or more
characters are conversing,
dialog is the exchange of
speech between them.