Georgian short prose – a discovery of culturology

Abstract

The origin of Georgian brief fictional prose narrative come from ancient sources. It is related to “frame narrative”, when different fables, araks, fairy tales, novels or sermons are built on one main story. Patterns of such narration are found in ancient Indian literature. This is a collection of Indian fables “Panchatantra”. “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” can also be classified as main sources for such genre. The narrative style of this type played a certain role in the formation of brief fictional prose narrative. In ancient Georgian literature, the collection of fables “Kilila and Damana” based on the Indian “Panchatantra” is considered to be  sample of “frame narrative”. In the Georgian “frame narrative” we find an allegory, a metaphorical parable, a moral-doctrinal sermon. An example of it is “The Book of Wisdom and Lies”; from this point of view it is also interesting to be acquainted with “Limonari” by Ioane Moskhi, translations of patristic novels and “The Wisdom Balahvar”.