Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

An Analysis of the Story of Rostam and Esfandiyar Based on Mythological Criticism Using Northrop Frye's Theory with an Emphasis on the Shahnameh of the Safavid Tabriz School at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Abdul Reza Naderifar 1
Fatemeh Mohammadi 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
2 Master's student in the Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah,, Iran.
10.22034/ias.2023.377138.2121
Abstract
The stories of the Shahnameh have always provided a suitable context for research in the field of epic literature. This study, aimed at analyzing the story of Rostam and Esfandiyar using mythological criticism based on Northrop Frye's theory, collected necessary information through a library-based method and analyzed it descriptively and analytically. The results indicated that, according to Frye's model, the story of Rostam and Esfandiyar belongs to the category of tragedy, governed by the phases of order, passion, and isolation. The six stages of tragedy are also exemplified in it. In fact, the ultimate meaning of this tragedy is Rostam's complete isolation and his immersion in the sea of personal experience gained in this story. Therefore, upon completing these six stages, the story of Rostam and Esfandiyar concludes and presents an unpleasant image to the audience, highlighting the element of determinism and realistic control in the end of the tragedy. These determinist elements are clearly visible in the illustrations of the Shahnameh from the Safavid Tabriz School at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.
Research Objectives:

To examine the story of Rostam and Esfandiyar in light of Frye's model.
To explore the meaning of the tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar with an emphasis on the Shahnameh of the Safavid Tabriz School at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.

Research Questions:

How does the story of Rostam and Esfandiyar align with Frye's model?
What meaning is embedded in the tragedy of Rostam and Esfandiyar, with a focus on the Shahnameh of the Safavid Tabriz School at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art?
Keywords
Epic
Mythological Criticism
Story of Rostam and Esfandiyar
Northrop Frye's Theory
Epic Literature
Ahmadi, Zahra, and Kazempour, Mehdi. "A Mythological Critique of the Story of Rostam and Sohrab Based on Northrop Frye's Theories." Literary Text Research Quarterly, vol. 26, no. 93, 2022, pp. 285-305. [In Persian].
Bashiri, Mahmoud, and Norouzi, Neda. "A Critique of the Story of Siavash Based on Northrop Frye's Historical Criticism Theories." Proceedings of the Seventh Conference of the Association for Promotion of Persian Language and Literature, vol. 2, 2018. [In Persian].
Ferdowsi, Abolqasem. Shahnameh. Edited by Saeed Hamidian, 17th ed., Tehran: Qatreh Publications, 2010. [In Persian].
Ferdowsi, Abolqasem. Shahnameh. Edited by Jules Mohl, 2nd ed., Tehran: Pocket Books Company, 1974. [In Persian].
Green, Wilfred, and Morgan, B. Principles of Literary Criticism. Translated by Farzaneh Taheri, Tehran: Niloufar Publications, 1997. [In Persian].
Ibn Athir, Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Abi al-Karam. Al-Kamil fi al-Tawarikh. Beirut: Dar Sader, 1965.
Ibn Hisham, Abdul Malik. The Life of Muhammad (PBUH), the Prophet of Islam. Translated by Seyyed Hashem Rasouli, 5th ed., Tehran: Ketabcheh Publications, 1996. [In Persian].
Ibn Hisham, Abdul Malik. Sirah Nabawiyyah. Edited by Mustafa al-Saqa et al., Beirut: Dar al-Ma'arifah, n.d.
Islaminejadushan, Mohammad Ali. The Story of Stories: Rostam and Esfandiyar in Shahnameh. 3rd ed., Tehran: Sherkat Sahami Enteshar Publications, 2011. [In Persian].
Kazazi, Mir Jalaleddin. Dreams, Epics, Myths. Tehran: Markaz Publications, 1997. [In Persian].
Mal Mir, Teymour. "The Structure of the Story of Rostam and Esfandiyar." Journal of Humanities Faculty, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, no. 19 (2006): pp. 16-19. [In Persian].
Mujmal al-Tawarikh wa al-Qisas. Edited by Malek al-Shoara Bahar, Tehran: Kalaleh Khavar Publications, n.d. [In Persian].
Nabi Lou, Alireza. "Analyzing the Story of Rostam and Esfandiyar Based on Claude Brémond's Perspective." Persian Literary Text Research Quarterly, no. 16 (2012): pp. 33-52. [In Persian].
Namvar Motlagh, Bahman. Myth and Mythology According to Northrop Frye: From Anatomy of Criticism to Archetypal Symbolism. Tabriz: Mogharem Publications, 2014. [In Persian].
Nöldeke, Theodor. Iranian National Epic. Translated by Bozorg Alavi with an introduction by Saeed Nafisi, 4th ed., Tehran: Jami and Sepehr Publications Center, 1990. [In Persian].
Northrup Frye. Anatomy of Criticism. Translated by Saleh Hosseini, Tehran: Niloufar Publications, 1998. [In Persian].
Northrup Frye. "Literature and Myth in Myth and Symbol." Translated by Jalal Sattari. Tehran: Soroush Publications, 1999. [In Persian].
Northrup Frye. Fools of Time. Translated by Helen Oliyaii, Isfahan: Farda Publications, 2009.
Rashed Mohassel, Mohammad Taghi. "A Review of the Story of Rostam and Esfandiyar." Journal of the Faculty of Literature and Humanities of Mashhad University, no. 3-4 (1990): pp. 432-462. [In Persian].
Routon. Myth. Translated by Abolqasem Esmaeilpour, 3rd ed., Tehran: Markaz Publications, 2006. [In Persian].
Sephahi, Jamshid. A Look at the Rise and Fall of Rostam in Shahnameh. Tehran: Asia Publications Institute, 1970. [In Persian].
Tabari, Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Jarir. History of Prophets and Kings. Edited by Muhammad Abul Fazl Ibrahim, 2nd ed., Beirut: Dar Turath, 1967.
Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir. Tarikh al-Tabari. Translated by Abolqasem Payandeh, 5th ed., Tehran: Asatir Publications, 1996. [In Persian].
Tha'labi, Abdul Malik ibn Muhammad. Ghurar Akhbar Muluk al-Furs wa Siyaruhum. Translated by Mohammad Fazaeli, Tehran: Naghreh Publications, 1989. [In Persian].
Va'ez, Roostet, and Zirak, Sareh. "Analyzing Reciprocal Behavior in the Story of Rostam and Esfandiyar Based on Eric Berne's Theory." Journal of Epic Literature Research, no. 31 (2021): pp. 275-302. [In Persian].
Vaqefi, Muhammad ibn Umar. Mughazeh; The History of the Prophet's Wars. Translated by Mahmoud Mahdavi Damghani, 2nd ed., Tehran: Center for University Publications, 1990. [In Persian].
Yazdani-Rad, Ali. "The Battle of Rostam and Esfandiyar; An Epic Narrative of a Historical Phenomenon." Kavoshnameh Quarterly, no. 52 (2022): pp. 9-46. [In Persian].