Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

The Function of Mythological Symbols in the Lyrical Imagery of Nader Naderpour's Poetry in Comparison with Illustrated Timurid Shahnamehs

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mokhtar Ebrahimi 1
Manouchehr Jokar 2
Abdolah Taheri 3
1 Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
3 PhD student in Persian language and literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22034/ias.2021.299395.1689
Abstract
Symbols and the use of symbolic language are among the most important tools for creating poetic imagery and mental elaborations, particularly in contemporary Persian literature. Through symbols, a poet can transform inner, spiritual, and psychological thoughts into tangible and objective forms. Due to their interpretative nature, symbols liberate literary texts from one-dimensionality, allowing readers to derive multiple meanings from the text. The aim of this research is to demonstrate, through an analytical-descriptive method, library resources, and statistical data analysis, that the mythological symbols used in Naderpour's poetry not only display lyrical poetic imagery and create artistic ambiguity and pleasure for the audience but also serve other functions. By interpreting these mythological symbols and analyzing the resulting lyrical imagery, the inner and conceptual thoughts behind these images can be uncovered. This study, through a detailed examination of the lyrical imagery in Naderpour's poetry and the extraction and interpretation of the mythological symbols employed, reveals that these symbols—according to quantitative and statistical results—serve national, social, romantic, philosophical, and boastful functions, respectively. The findings indicate that in the lyrical imagery, the poet not only creates innovative poetic images but also seeks to convey specific ideas to the audience. In this endeavor, Naderpour utilizes mythological concepts and symbols as essential tools in developing the intellectual themes of lyrical imagery in his poetry. Lyrical imagery also holds a significant place in the illustrated Shahnamehs of the Timurid period.
Research Objectives:

To examine the functions of mythological symbols in the lyrical imagery of Nader Naderpour's poetry.
To compare the functions of mythological symbols in Naderpour's poetry with those in the illustrated Timurid Shahnamehs.

Research Questions:

What are the functions of Nader Naderpour's poetry?
How do the functions of Naderpour's poetry compare with those in the illustrated Timurid Shahnamehs?
Keywords
Mythological symbols
function of symbols
lyrical imagery
illustrated Timurid Shahnamehs
Nader Naderpour
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