Treasury of Persian Language and Literature

Analysis of the Functions of Rhetorical Devices (Metaphor and Hyperbole) in the Poem Vis and Rāmin

Azam Majidian iD , Gholam Abbas Zakeri ^* iD , Foroozan Haghshenas Gatabi iD

The poem Vis and Rāmin, composed by Fakhr al-Din Asʿad Gorgāni, is one of the oldest and most distinguished romantic epics in Persian literature, which from the eleventh century CE to the present has continuously preserved its status as an enduring masterpiece. This work is not only remarkable in terms of narrative content and thematic structure, but, due to its artistic use of rhetorical devices, also constitutes a valuable corpus for the examination of linguistic and literary aesthetics. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the functions of rhetorical devices (metaphor and hyperbole) in Vis and Rāmin. The findings of this research, carried out using a descriptive–analytical approach and based on library-based data collection, indicate that rhetorical devices in Vis and Rāmin, as aesthetic elements, have not only transformed the text into a pleasing and enduring literary work, but have also added profound semantic layers to the narrative. These devices collectively construct a multidimensional portrayal of love, humanity, and destiny that compels every reader toward reflection and contemplation. The examination of metaphor in Vis and Rāmin, as one of the most prominent rhetorical devices, demonstrates the central role of this figure of speech in the creation of poetic imagery and in the deepening of emotional and philosophical concepts, such that, as a powerful expressive tool, it not only contributes to the formation of vivid and poetic images, but also, by linking natural, human, and divine elements, artistically articulates complex notions such as love, power, transience, and immortality; likewise, hyperbole plays a pivotal role in intensifying poetic expression, generating innovative imagery, and conveying profound emotions. This rhetorical device, through the exaggeration of attributes and events, enables the poet to transmit epic, emotional, and tragic concepts to the audience in an influential and astonishing manner.

The Impact of Carnivalesque Features on the Representation of Social Classes in Persian Proverbs: Volume I of Dehkhoda’s Amsal va Hekam

Seyed Mojtaba Miri hazave iD , Mohsen Izadyar ^* iD , Shahrokh Hekmat iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jtpll.123

Persian lyrical literature has always reflected the social, cultural, and political conditions of Iranian society, with its great poets and writers using poetry and prose to express their pains, ideals, and critiques. Among these, folk literature especially proverbs plays a crucial role in conveying social and political meanings as part of the people’s oral culture. Proverbs, with their simple and concise language, reflect concepts such as justice, inequality, corruption, power, hope, and criticism of the status quo. Because of their popular nature, they are considered one of the most effective tools of collective expression.

This study, drawing on Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of the carnivalesque, analyzes the carnivalesque features found in the proverbs of Volume I of Ali Akbar Dehkhoda’s Amsal va Hekam. Elements such as ridicule, mockery, grotesque, norm inversion, laughter, humor, and criticism of power are identified and examined to reveal their critical and dialogic function within folk literature.

The novelty of this research, compared to previous domestic and international studies, lies in its focus on proverbs as short, highly condensed texts that have rarely been analyzed within the framework of carnivalesque theory, despite their considerable capacity to represent cultural resistance, social inversion, and critique of official discourse.

Findings indicate that proverbs function not only as part of linguistic cultural heritage but also as tools for reflecting the real lives of people, expressing critical discourse, and fostering social resistance. This research highlights the importance of reinterpreting proverbs through the lens of contemporary literary theory and shows that carnivalesque elements can be key to uncovering the hidden layers of social critiq ue embedded in oral culture.

A Comparative Study of the Elegies of Ibn al-Rūmī and Ahmad Shamlou: An Analysis of Linguistic Structure, Imagination, and Imagery

Seyed Roghieh Mehrinejad iD , Zahra Saidi ^* iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jtpll.158

Elegy, as one of the oldest literary genres and poetic themes, has taken on various forms throughout the history of literature. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the elegies of Ibn al-Rūmī (a 9th-century Arab poet) and Ahmad Shamlou (a contemporary Iranian poet). Using qualitative content analysis and a comparative literature approach, the elegies of both poets are examined in terms of thematic content (individual and social), linguistic structure, imagination, and poetic imagery. The findings of the research indicate that Ibn al-Rūmī’s elegies predominantly revolve around family members (mother, wife, brother, and three sons), caliphs and emirs, prominent Shi‘ite figures, and the city of Basra. In contrast, Shamlou’s elegies are mainly dedicated to literary figures who were heralds of freedom, such as Forough Farrokhzad and Jalal Al-e Ahmad. In terms of linguistic structure, both poets utilize a firm and resolute language with philosophical and rational undertones. However, mystical elements are more prominent in Shamlou’s elegies, while Ibn al-Rūmī, through the use of fluid and gentle vocabulary and an imagistic style, depicts sorrow and lamentation with greater artistic finesse. Regarding imagination, both poets transcend conventional boundaries and navigate beyond the surface layers of language. Nonetheless, Ibn al-Rūmī demonstrates greater success in employing similes and metaphors and in conveying grief and sorrow.

Investigating the Role of Commitment and Obligation in the Formation and Development of Iranian Resistance Literature from Its Inception to the Islamic Revolution

Abbas Fatahizadeh iD , Hossein Esmaili ^* iD , Hossein Shafiei iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jtpll.141

Resistance literature, as an influential tool in the history of Iranian literature, has played a significant role in reflecting and promoting social, political, and human issues. This genre of literature, with a focus on resistance against oppression, corruption, and injustice, has consistently served as an instrument for social struggle and raising public awareness. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of Iranian authors’ commitment and obligation in shaping and developing resistance literature from its inception up to the Islamic Revolution, and to analyze how these commitments were utilized for social, political, and cultural critique. This research has been conducted using a descriptive-analytical method and is based on library and documentary sources. A comparative-logical approach was employed to analyze various works. The findings indicate that Iranian resistance literature has played a significant role in promoting justice, freedom, and resistance during critical periods such as the Constitutional Revolution and the Islamic Revolution. Writers, through their commitment to humanistic and social ideals, created works aimed at combating oppression and corruption. These works not only reflected social and cultural aspects but also contributed to the expansion of a culture of resistance and social awareness. The study emphasizes that commitment and obligation have served as central elements in the formation of this body of literature.

Examining the Dimensions of Education and Training in Qabusnameh and Kalila and Dimna Based on Thorndike's Theory of Set

Marzeyeh Rashidi iD , Saeideh Niazi ^* iD , Masood Sepahvandi iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jtpll.135

Although the requirements of education and training have not been articulated in modern terms, they have long been present in classical literary texts according to the prevalent practices of their respective eras. Today, through the classification, formulation, extraction, and discovery of educational principles and methods—and by reinterpreting and aligning them with the content of didactic literature—it becomes evident that while modern principles may appear novel in terminology and form, they bear little substantive difference from the educational elements found in classical didactic texts. Thorndike's theory is one of the contemporary educational theories. It is structured around the principles of readiness, exercise, and set, and is regarded as one of the fundamental frameworks in modern psychology of education. The components introduced in this theory for education and training are observable and analyzable within the two didactic works Qabusnameh and Kalila and Dimna. This study aims to extract the educational principles and foundations in these two texts in accordance with Thorndike's theory.

A Comparative Critique of the Teaching of Arabic Textbooks in Middle and High School During the 1990s and 2010s in Iran

Zahra Abbaszadeh iD , Gholam Abbas Zakeri ^* iD , Foruzan Haghshenas Getabi iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jtpll.166

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a comparative critique of Arabic textbooks in Iranian middle and high schools during the 1990s and 2010s, focusing on structure, linguistic content, educational goals, and teaching approaches.

Methodology: Using a narrative review and descriptive analysis approach, this study analyzed Arabic textbooks used in secondary education across two decades. Key dimensions included textbook structure and design, types of texts and exercises, attention to four core language skills, assessment methods, and alignment with the National Curriculum.

Findings: The findings indicate that 1990s textbooks were rooted in traditional, grammar-based instruction, lacking visual design and student engagement, with a strong teacher-centered orientation. In contrast, 2010s textbooks incorporated interactive tasks, practical language use, visual enhancements, and emphasized speaking and listening skills. However, implementation challenges remained due to limited teacher training and resource gaps.

Conclusion: While 2010s textbooks represent substantial improvement over previous decades in structure and pedagogy, their success depends on improved alignment with classroom realities, supplementary materials, and teacher empowerment. The study highlights that textbook reform must be accompanied by broader institutional support for effective language education.

Narratological Analysis of the Novel Bioton by Reza Amir-Khani Based on Gérard Genette’s Theory

Reza Zandavar iD , Roghieh Sadraei ^* iD , Maryam Barzegar iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jtpll.105

Narratology examines the structure and function of narrative. Several decades have passed since the emergence of narratology, and narratologists regard the transmission of narrative as a source of knowledge and insight, offering broad definitions of it. Narrative appears in numerous and diverse forms across all ages, locations, and societies, and is connected to all aspects of human life. Gérard Genette, a prominent French narratologist, developed his structuralist theory under the influence of structuralist schools of thought and their theorists in the twentieth century. The present article adopts an analytical-descriptive approach to explore the narratology of the novel Bioton based on Genette’s theory, with particular attention to the dimensions of time, mood, and voice. Analepsis and prolepsis are among the primary mechanisms that disrupt the chronological order and sequence in narrative. Repetition occurs in various forms—repetition of sentences, personal memories, or differences in mental, intellectual, cultural, social, and political perspectives. The narrative mood in Bioton is characterized by internal focalization.

Investigating the Manifestations of the Science of Semantics in the Poetry Collection of Shaukat Bukhari

Omidvar Aali Mahmoudi ^* iD , Soltan Morad Ali Mardankhani iD , Seyyed Ali Sohrabnejad iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jtpll.108

The science of Ma‘ānī (semantics) examines the appropriateness of speech in accordance with the context and circumstances of the speaker, the audience, the setting, the subject matter, and the literary genre. The focus of this discipline lies in the analysis of sentence types from the perspective of their secondary meanings. The present study, conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to explore the manifestations of the science of semantics in the poetry collection (Dīvān) of Shaukat Bukhari. The findings of this research indicate that Shaukat Bukhari, in his efforts to enrich his speech and engage the mental faculties of his audience, skillfully and astonishingly employs various fundamental concepts of semantics such as assertive attribution (isnād-i khabarī), restriction and exclusivity (qaṣr wa ḥaṣr), performative utterances (inshāʾ), principles of separation (faṣl) and connection (waṣl), brevity (ījāz), elaboration (iṭnāb), among others. These rhetorical techniques are utilized in such a masterful way that readers not only derive immense aesthetic pleasure from reading this monumental work, but also gain profound insights through its layered secondary meanings.

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