Folk Heritage References in the Short Stories of Mohammed bin Saif Al-Rahbi

Abstract

This study investigates the role of folk heritage references in the short stories of Mohammed bin Saif Al-Rahbi through an analysis of four major collections: City Gates, What the Wind Said, Membranes of Sand, and And the Magician Said. The research examines how Al-Rahbi incorporates elements of Omani folk heritage into modern narrative discourse, treating heritage as both a cultural reference system and a narrative strategy. Organized into three analytical sections devoted to folk tales, heritage characters, and traditional spaces, the study explores the ways in which myths, popular beliefs, historical settings, and folkloric figures contribute to the construction of narrative meaning. The findings reveal that Al-Rahbi employs heritage references with considerable artistic precision, integrating them into the structure of the narrative rather than using them merely as decorative cultural elements. Traditional Omani places emerge as vital narrative spaces closely connected to character formation and the unfolding of events. The study further demonstrates that the writer’s narrative style is distinguished by elements of wonder and the fantastic, particularly in his revival of myths and ancient stories. Ultimately, the research highlights the significance of folk heritage in enriching contemporary Omani storytelling and in connecting modern narrative expression with collective cultural memory.