The Comparative Study of Iranian and German Folk Stories (Case Study: Molla Nasreddin's Story and Grimm's Legends

. Introduction
Stories and legends are like ships in the direction of the wind, moving east and west, north and south, traveling from one land to another, and sometimes changing from one form to another. The process of development and metamorphosis of these stories can usually be traced, despite their ups and downs. Among the most attractive examples of this type of story are those that have humorous content, and they have certainly played an important role in creating pleasure and entertainment for people in different nations. Since such stories were usually presented as anecdotes and in a short form, they could be passed on more quickly. One of the most famous comic characters in Iran is Molla Nasreddin, who has a long history among Iranians and other people. His popularity, presence, and influence are such that many instructive hints and answers are attributed to him and he is effectively represented in folk literature and Persian proverbs and sayings.
The fact that stories have been used since ancient times as one of the best methods of education prompted us to look for similarities in the legends and stories of other peoples. Compare with domestic examples. Among the different countries, the German fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm seem to be more similar to the stories of Molla Nasreddin. In this article we will try to answer the question, what are the similarities and differences between the themes of the stories of Molla Nasreddin and the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm?
 
2.Methodology
The method used in this research is descriptive-analytical. The data has been analyzed by content analysis technique and library documents have been used in it. The research approach in terms of comparative literature is based on the American school.
 
3.Discussion
From the distant past to the present, wise people have told stories and legends to guide others and teach them important life lessons. The problems that people faced on a daily basis required solutions, which were often found in stories. On the other hand, people's dreams and fantasies, and even unattainable desires could come true in stories and sweeten their palates, even if only for a short time. In the following article, we will review the summary of some stories of Molla Nasreddin and related stories in Grimm's Fairy Tales We will also .categorize and extract the salient features of the characters mentioned in the stories.
We have selected 29 stories of Molla Nasreddin based on their similarities with the Brothers Grimm's fairy tales as examples for review. then we will compare the way of storytelling and their similarities and differences.
In most of these stories, simplicity is the main characteristic of Molla Nasreddin. Moreover, the mullah can be seen as a simple and ignorant character who is often self-deprecating, but sometimes he appears so entitled and arrogant that this personality conflict makes the audience laugh. Sometimes he takes advantage of the experiences of others, and sometimes he is open to criticism with humility. All these traits are different characteristics of ordinary people, one of which is highlighted in each story to attract the audience's attention and make them correct their behavior.
Most of the characters of the Brothers Grimm are naive, ignorant, and gullible. Some of them are the third brother or the third student and sometimes they are smaller and weaker than others. Resourcefulness and good-heartedness are positive qualities that connect the reader with the main character, and their cleverness at the last moment or their luck provides a happy ending in the stories.
 In some other stories, the main character is cunning and greedy and uses any means to achieve his wish. Here, however, contrary to Iranian stories, witches and wizards are present to help the hero in difficult times and save him from danger. After all, the German people also have common concerns and problems, and stories help them during the difficulties.
 
4.Conclusion
Folklore consists of the language, behavior, way of thinking, and attitude of the members of the society reflected in their legends. The stories of Molla Nasreddin, with their humorous and wise aspects, have played a very important role in informing and sensitizing the people. The storytellers of Grimm's fairy tales have told stories to people by following the example of normal characters in society so that people can easily identify with them and find the way out of problems and succeed from the heart of the story.
In Iranian culture, due to the belief in Islam and Islam's rejection of magic, humor was used instead of magic to portray popular culture and educate people, while in Germany, the tool of magic and legend was most commonly used to convey concepts and criticize the prevailing situation. Thus, the difference between these two cultures is the non-use of magic in Iranian stories.
The similarities between these two collections lie more in the fact that a common person takes roles and positions in different stories, and this despite the naivety and stupidity and everyday events and sometimes laughter. Unexpectedly, he completes something and sees the consequences of his actions. The purpose of the stories is to condemn the bad qualities and traits in society and teach morality and lifestyle in a pleasant and effective way.
In general, the mullah can be seen as a simple and ignorant character who is often self-deprecating, but sometimes he appears so self-righteous and arrogant that this personality conflict causes laughter among the audience. Sometimes he takes advantage of the experiences of others, and sometimes he is open to criticism with humility; but these behaviors do not last long, and they come across as stingy, greedy, selfish, and apologetic. The heroes of the Brothers Grimm's fairy tales are also naive, ignorant, and gullible. most of them are the third brother or the third disciple and sometimes they are smaller and weaker than others. Resourcefulness and good-heartedness are positive qualities that connect the reader with the main character, and their cleverness at the last moment or their luck provides a happy ending in the stories. In some other stories, the main character is cunning and greedy and uses any means to fulfill his desire.
It can be concluded that the general culture of the two countries has many similarities and themes. Heroization of ordinary characters is the main theme of most of these stories. Sometimes the audience gets angry or laughs at the exaggerated naivety of the main character, but in the end, this method has a profound effect on the audience and teaches the audience many lessons during the story.