The Little Black Fish

At first glance, The Little Black Fish is a simple, charming tale. It follows a curious little fish who lives in a small stream with his mother. Unlike the other fish, who are content with their limited world, he is bold and restless. He yearns to know what lies at the end of the stream. Despite his mother’s warnings that the outside world is dangerous, he embarks on a journey to the sea, facing enemies and finding allies along the way.

However, this is more than just a children’s story.

Written by Samad Behrangi and originally published in 1968 by the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kānoon-e Parvaresh-e Fekri-e Koodakān va Nojavānān, better known as Kānoon)—under the direct patronage of Empress Farah Pahlavi’s Special Bureau—this book holds a unique and paradoxical place in Iranian history.

This context creates a fascinating historical irony: The Empress’s patronage provided a creative “safe haven” for artists, shielding them from censorship and allowing works like this to flourish and win global awards. Yet, political groups interpreted the story not as a fable of discovery, but as a manifesto for armed struggle against the very system that funded it. A generation of youth read the fish’s journey as an allegory for revolution and sacrifice.

Why Take This Course?

In this course, we move beyond simple translation. We study the text as a cultural artifact of pre-1979 Iran. You will learn:

• The Language: Essential Persian vocabulary and prose style.
• The Art: Appreciation of the award-winning illustrations from Iran’s golden age of graphic design.
• The Context: A critical look at how a state-sponsored children’s book became a symbol for the massive social changes of the 1979 Revolution.

Note: We approach this text with intellectual curiosity and a critical historical lens, exploring the complex layers of modern Persian literature without necessarily endorsing the ideologies it later inspired.

Awards & Recognition

• Hans Christian Andersen award for illustrations by Farshid Mesghali (1974)
• First Graphic Prize, Sixth International Children Books’ Fair in Bologna for illustrations by Farshid Mesghali (1969)
• Honorary Diploma, Bratislava Biannual, Czechoslovakia, for illustrations by Farshid Mesghali (1968)

Course Structure:

• 11 Consecutive Sections: The story is divided into manageable sections for ease of learning.
• Audio & Text Integration: Each section begins with a synced Persian audio recording to enhance listening comprehension.
• Reading Guide: Key new words are highlighted throughout the text. In the sidenotes, their synonyms and translations are provided, creating a built-in mini-dictionary for quick and easy reference.
• Interactive Exercises: Test your knowledge with vocabulary, grammar, sentence building, and more engaging activities.
• Comprehensive Vocabulary Lists: Review key words and phrases used in each section.
• Bonus Module: Beyond the Fable – Historical Context: A critical analysis of the book’s legacy. In this exclusive final lesson, we explore the “Royal Patronage Paradox”—how Empress Farah Pahlavi’s support allowed this book to be published—and decode how its symbols were weaponized to fuel the 1979 Revolution.