Reading Notes Part A: The Seven Voyages of Sinbad

Below are reading notes for the book The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor:

Sinbad and the Roc's Egg

• Sinbad’s first story begins with him getting stuck on an island after mistaking an island for a whale. This reminds me of Jonah and the Whale from the Bible. It would be interesting to include a story about someone who is lost at sea and finds an island full of inhabitants. Maybe make him extremely powerful and become king of this new civilization.
• Sinbad seems very ambitious and extremely successful. It is neat how he has a lot of money but still is extremely driven to be better.
• Sinbad is always getting out of situations in a unique way. He seems like he uses his intelligence like that of Odysseus, however, he is more down to earth. I like his character more because of his lack of arrogance. I would love to incorporate a story where someone has to escape from extremely large animals (such as a bird, lion, or an insect).
• It is interesting that there is a giant in this story that wants to eat them. I think it is funny how he had the same idea as Odysseus in that they stabbed the giant’s singular eye. I feel that there is a direct comparison between the way Odysseus and Sinbad go about escaping/overcoming obstacles.
• Sinbad’s crew are getting killed off during this third voyage. I may want to incorporate a way in which a majority of them live in order to liven up the story.
• I still am liking the theme of gigantic animals and Sinbad having to defeat them. I wonder why all of these stories make the main character be alone in the end. He always is lucky though and finds a way back home making a lot of money. He seems like quite the merchant.
• I like the way he is tricked into marrying his wife and having to be buried with her. It would be interesting to write a story where a character is tricked into something only to find out it was nothing of what they expected.
• Again, a reoccurring theme that he always comes out on top despite the crazy stories. The fact that these are all first person stories makes the reader wonder if he is exaggerated them in order to make the story better.

The Arabian Nights' Entertainments. Written by Andrew Lang and Illustrated by H. J. Ford. 1898.