Mythological Themes in the Tale of Girl and Gazelle

Tales are important parts of folk literature and culture. This part of folk culture is a manifestation of the beliefs, ideas, and the life styles of the people of each nation. The tales of each region, especially the oral ones, provide an appropriate context for exploring the mythological and totemic beliefs of the natives. Accordingly, the tale of Girl and Gazelle, which is one of the most common tales of the Kumereh Sorkhi region in the Fars province of Iran, is analyzed in this study. The author tried to record this tale first via field method, which has not been recorded in any sources, and then study the mythological themes of the tale through the descriptive-analytical method. The results of the study show that the mythological beliefs are seen vividly, or symbolically and mysteriously in all pivots of the tale. The study tried to analyze these themes in different parts: the oak tree of ‘Martyr’, a holly tree in the region of Kuhmereh Sorkhi, the call on the tree to become pregnant, the birth of the girl from the trunk of a special tree, the growth of a plant from the blood of the innocent character of the tale, the role of fairies in the tale, hair as a fertility tool, burying the bones, the tree of life, the journey to the world of the dead in dream, and passing through seven or several labors.