QUESTIONING THE CONCEPT OF IDEOLOGICAL MOTHERHOOD IN A POPULAR LEGEND: CAN WOLF BE A MOTHER?

Patriarchal society has assigned definite attributes to multiple gender roles; “motherhood” as a sanctified social role is also not an exception. Literary stories, especially popular legends, circulating among different classes of people in the society, inculcate ideological tenets to the members of the society. This article focuses on the Iranian legend Boze Zangoole Pa and its German parallel The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats to divulge the concept of “motherhood.” Although both legends hold several similar parts, they differ in unraveling the character of mother; While the Iranian version is less frequently told, this article narrates the legend in both versions and offers critical interpretations regarding the rendition of the concept of “motherhood.” Through compare and contrast, analysis shows how Iranian version deflects from ideological standardization in depicting the character of “mother,” and eventually accentuates the importance of ancient legends for the children of this generation