Investigating the effect of poetic images on the audience in the common stories of Hadiqa Haqiqa Sana'i and Rumi's spiritual Masnavi

Abstract

Imagery is one of the most significant literary tools for conveying meaning. What enhances the influence of poetic imagery is the poet’s imagination and creative visualization. The term image (or imagery) corresponds to imago, a concept originating from the literary movement known as Imagism, which emerged in early twentieth-century England under the leadership of Hume and was based on the ideas of the renowned French philosopher Bergson. Poets observe the world with awareness and employ images drawn from their surroundings to give concrete form to abstract and mental concepts. In doing so, they strive to transfer their mental creations to the audience, draw them into their imaginative world, and thereby communicate and extend their beliefs.

In both Ḥadīqat al-Ḥaqīqa and the Mathnawī, similar images appear; however, they differ in their modes of depiction. Due to these differences, the degree of impact each exerts upon the audience varies. In this study, conducted through a descriptive-analytical method, the images found in the parallel tales of Ḥadīqat al-Ḥaqīqa and the Mathnawī were identified and analyzed in terms of their effect on the audience. The findings revealed that the differing levels of impact stem from elements such as objectivity, embodiment, dynamism, imagination, optimism, communicative power, artistic expression, vivid description, and aesthetic beauty.