During the seventeenth century, the Arabic language gradually replaced the old persian languag. This took place due to an invasion and conquest of persia by the mohammedan Arabs led by the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). The Persian script changed and so too did the literature because the Arabs had brought with them the new religion of Islam with them replacing the older reigions Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism. Despite this, three hundred years later the language was gradually re-introduced although the Arabic script was still used. The language during this period was expressed in terms of "...the ancient traditions of Persia merged with the culture of Islam."(Persian Literature, Encarta). This has an overwhelming effect on the citizens of Persia. It is a period that gave birth to many artists, most of whom dedicated their work to the preservation of their national pride and heritage that had been lost.
The proof that the poetry (and all other form of literature) was and still is an important aspect of the lives' of Persians is in the popularity of the work produced so long ago. Donald Wilbur describes that"...thousands of uneducated people can repeat long passages..." (Wilbur,89). This fact demonstrates that the words have great meaning and depth for al people of Persia. The lIterature of Persia also became popular all over the world. Some of the most significant of the authors and poets are Firdawsi, Hafiz, Sa'di, Umar Khayyam and Rumi all whom have had their works translated into several languages. Poets such as Firdawsi, Hafiz, and Sa'di have been quoted many times. One westerner describes the greatness of the poetry of Sa'di: "The Gulistan of Sa'di has attained popularity in the East which perhaps, has never been reached by any European work in this Western world" (Sa'di, The Gulistan 7). Poetry was not just loved in terms of its context. A great deal of effort went into the presentation of the poetry. It would often takes many years to complete the artwork for a book of poems, This is also proof that literature was loved and cherished by the Persians. The language that was introduced so long ago hasn't changed much unlike the English language, so it also makes it easy for people of all generations to read and understand.
The peoms written were almost always the form of couplets. The length of poems range from from several couplets to thousands of couplets and the rhymig of the poems were often as A-B-C-B. The Rubba'iyyat were introduced by Umar Khayyam. These poems were composed of two couplets (four lines). Another more popular foramof poem was the Ghazal. The majority of the works of poets are in the form of a Ghazal which would contain "...from four to sixteen couplets, in which the poet included his takhalus, or 'Pen name'..." (Wilbur, 87).
The most common job of a poet became that of a court poet appointed by the ruler of the time. The poets were chosen not only for their work but also for their display of wisdom, respect and experience in many aspects of life. It is evident that the majority of works of poets wrote descriptions of their travels and experiences. Also a common feature of most poetry was that of moral guidance which arose from the change of religion and need for establishing a national identity.
Considering the time at which the aove poets lived it seems amazing that after so many years the meaning has not been lost. Because writing was tha only means of communication other than speech, a great emphasis was put on literature to reflect the aspirations of the nation; in fact it may also be said that the poetry (and other forms ofliterature) written by them, kept their country alive.
A poet named Sa'di is perhaps the most popular poet in present day Iranaian schools. His works originating some three hundred years later than Firdawsi's "...are the first classics to which the student of Persia is Introduced" (Ahmad, Hundred Great Muslims 209). The most well known of his publications are The Gulistan (meaning Rose Garden) and The Bostan (meaning The Orchard). He has also written many other poems and short stories that were compiled together to produce a book containing all of his work called Kul'liat-e-Sa'di. The stories of his extensive tavels are used to help the reader to understand morals.
Poetic form
Sa'di: a brief look at his literary works
He himself was an orphan who experienced much hardship for some time and so had a greater understanding of how others had to live. It is due to that experience that his concern for other of is country, not just himself, is evident in his work.
This poem not only tells the storyof how an orphan feels but it is also a plea to the nation to protect the poorest and most helpless people. As Donald Wilbur wrote, "...it is almost impossible to translate a line of persian into another language without neglecting at least one of its possible meanings." (Wilbur, 88). Using this idea it is possible to suggest that another interpretation of this poem would be that of the orphan representing the nation during the Mohammedan conquest. Just as the orphan has loast a father, Persia has lost an identity. There is a need to make the orphan feel better, so too must the Persians help to re-establish themselves.
Another example of his efforts to stress the idea that the portrail of national identity is a moral reposibility can be read in one of his poems from The Bostan:
Everyone comes from one source,
Everybody is made from the same soul.
If one part of the body is hurt
It is felt throughout the body whole.
If you are indifferent of suffering by others
You cannot call yourself a dignified human." (Sa'di, Kul'liat-e-Sa'di 79)
The moral guidance he gives is his way of contributing to the preservation of national identity through hepling to make the people understand their morality, consciences and nature from within as one person and as a whole with others.
Firdawsi
Firdawsi is considered to be the greatest Persian poet to this day. His most famous work is the Shah-nameh which means The Book of Kings. It was begun in the 10th century and was completed in 1010. Altogether it took over 35 years to write. Before Firdawsi came to write the Shah-nameh, it was already begun by another poet. Only a very little had been written and so it was assigned to him when he first entered the royal court. It was to be the most important work he wrote. The Shah-nameh, composed of over 60,000 couplets, tells of the story of the Kings, heroes and heroines of Persia begining at the creation of the wold up until the Mohammedan conquest. The time at which it was written was directy after the renwal of the language and so was the greatest feat that Firdawsi undertook was writing it all in the reestablished language. This is one reason for the popularity of his work. Another reason is that it was one of the first pieces the persians had to be proud of as a nation.
The Shah-nameh
The Shah-nameh is based on the true stories but they are elaborated in the poem to make it more pleasurable for the reader and to prevent it from appearing to be another text about Persian history. Indeed the stories of love between Khosrow, Parveen and shirin and between Siavash and Sudaba are ones that capture the heart of many Persians. The life of Rostam and the battles that took place against his sin are exciting. And the death of Bahraam is memorial. These are just a few of the many people that the Shah-nameh tells the reader about.
The Shah-nameh: Rostam
Perhaps the most popular of all stories in the Shah-nameh, is the story of rostam. He is believd to be a great human with strength in all aspects (although not the strengths usually associated with super humans). "As he stood you might have believed hm to be Saam for handsomness and wisdom, for grace and judgement"(Firdawsi 48). Firdawsi also says, "he greww to the height of eight men so that his stature was that of noble cypress..." (48), buthe doesn't necessarily refer to his physical height but to the height of his recognitionand others' love for him because he then goes on to say, "...he might become a shining star at which all the world would gaze" (48).
As the main hero of he Shah-nameh, Rostam fights many battles and falls in love. His wife gives birth to a son called Sohrab. His son id believd to be in every was as wonderful as his father, but Rostam never sees him because he is always awa. Finally the time arrives when Sohrab wants to see his father but, unfortunately, he ends up opposing him in battle. Rostam not realising it is his son continues to fight with him until eventually Sohrab is slain. It is only then that Rostam discovers he has killed his son but t is too late. In this story we learn how rostam was rey to fight and defend his country even when it leads to death of his fanily. It also shows how they were both willing to make sacrifices for their country.
The Shah-nameh: Afrasiab's dream
Anothe important part of the Shah-nameh is the dream of Afrasiab. Afrasiab is the ruler and has the most awful dream which is described as thus:
May no man else ever behold in a dream the vision I saw in that balckness of the night. Never have I heard the like either from old or young. In my dream I saw a desert covered with serpents, the earth being shrouded with dust and the heavens obscured by eagles. The earth was desiccated, an arid waste to which you would have said that the sky had never shown itscountenance since the world came into existance. On its margin my pavillion was pitched, and about it ws atationed a guard of doughty warriors. A storm-wind laden...while on every hand a torrent of blood began to flow. Pavillion and camp were flattened...a countless number lay with heads severed and bodies prostrate. (94).
Again this dream can represent the literal meaning, but there is also the other deeper possibilities. The desert could once again represent Persia. The desert is shrouded with dust almost covering and hiding what is in view, as was Persia by the Mohammedan conquest. The dead bodies that lie there severed could represent the remaining piecesof old Persia. After Afrasiab has told hs dream, Garviz replies by saying, "This dream of your can have nothing but favourablt import" (94). It is also true that the conquest was indeed a healthy one because eventually Persia was able to rebuild itself anew.
Throughout the Shah-nameh there are many other important parts that could have more meanings. The possibility of meanings is also proof that however dirct the poems seem at first glance, their "...ambiguity is so general..." (Wilbur 88). Because Firdawsi's Shah-nameh was one of the first of its kind in complete Persian, it became an influential book and is still used as a means of teaching both in the classroom and at home.
Conclusion
Overall, when the peotry of the era is looked at more closely, it is evident that the poets devoted their work to the preservation of their national pride and heritage whether it be through historical or moralisitc poetry. Begining with Firdasi, a long line of authors wrote with that same goal in mind. Their work is undoubtedly good because it withstood the teat of time and their work is still cherished today as it was then. Today more young people in Iran are discovering the history of their ancestors through a pleasurable method; this above all is the best proof that poetry has served to preserve history and teach morality.
