Studiegids

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Classical Persian Poetry as a Living Tradition

Vak
2008-2009

This course is a weekly seminar, focusing on the role of classical Persian literature in various aspects of modern Persian society. For each seminar, students are required to read in advance selections from secondary literature and to analyse a limited number of passages from primary sources. Each session consists of two hours. In the first hour a general lecture is given and in the remaining hour, the students discuss their translations and analyses of a text. Each student is expected to give two presentations on a specific topic from the overview.

Rooster

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Onderwijsvorm

Seminar

Literatuur

Both primary and secondary literature are available from the lecturer. Students are responsible for their own photocopies of the texts.
For a list of the required reading see ‘Overview’.

Toetsing

The final assignment of this course is an essay of 3,000 words, part of which should be an annotated translation of a literary text.
Paper, presentations.

Informatie

dr. Asghar Seyed-Gohrab
Matthias de Vrieshof 4, Witte Singel 25, room 109B ( 31 (0) 71- 527 22 87.

Blackboard/webpagina

Yes.

Overzicht

1. Modern Persian literature: a classical exposure
Selected literature:

  • I. Parsinejad, A History of Literary Criticism in Iran (1866-1951): Literary Criticism in the works of Enlightened Thinkers of Iran, Akhundzade, Kermani, Malkom, Talebof, Maraghe’I, Kasravi and Hedayat, Bethesda, Maryland: IBEX Publishers, 2003.

  • M.R. Ghanoonparvar, Prophets of Doom: Literature as a Socio-Political Phenomenon in Modern Iran, New York / London: University Press of America, 1984.

  • M. Akhavân-e Thâleth, Bedathâ va badâyi-e Nimâ Yushij, Tehran: Naqsh-e Jahân,1357/1978.

  • Sh. Langarudi, Târikh-e tahlili-ye she`r-e now, 4 vols., Tehran: Nashr-e Markaz, 1377/1998.

  • M.M. Khorrami, Modern reflections of Classical traditions in Persian Fiction, New York: Lewiston, 2003.

  • M. Hoqoqi, She`r-e now az âghâz tâ emruz, Tehran: Ravâyat, 1371/1992.

2. The interaction between contemporary folk poetry and classical polite poetry
Primary literature:

  • E. Shakurzâda, `Aqâ’ed va rosum-e mardom-e Khorâsân, Tehran: Sorush, (2d printing) 1363/1984.

  • Matalhâ va afsânahâ-ye Irâni, compiled by S.A. Vakiliyan, Tehran: Sorush, 1378/1999. Secondary literature:

  • J. Cejpek, “Iranian Folk Literature” in J. Rypka, History of Iranian Literature, Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1968, 607-709. U. Marzolph, “Social Values in the Persian Popular Romance Salim-i Jawahiri” in Edebiyât, 1994, vol. 5, 77-98. U. Marzolph, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, onder Folklore Studies. Idem, “Popular Narratives in Galaloddin Rumi’s Masnavi” in The Arabist, 12/14, 1995, 275-287. Idem, “Folk Narrative and Folk Narrative Research in Post-Revolutionary Iran” in Middle East and South Asia Folklore Bulletin, 12/1, 1994, 8-12. Idem, “Popular Literature in the Qajar Period” in Asian Folklore Studies, 40, 2001, 215-236.

3. Ferdowsi’s Shâh-nâma as an icon of Persian identity
Primary literature:

  • Abu’l-Qâsem Ferdowsi, The Shah-nama (The Book of Kings), 5 vols. (to date), New York and Costa Mesa, California: Bibliotheca Persica and Mazda Publishers, ed. Dj. Khaleghi-Motlagh, 1988-.

Secondary literature:

  • D. Davis, Epic and Sedition: The case of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas Press, 1992. W.L. Hanaway, “Epic Poetry in Persian Literature” in Persian Literature, ed. E. Yarshater, Bibliotheca Persica, 1988, 96-108. E. Yarshater, “Iranian National History” in Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. 3 (1), ed. E. Yarshater, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983, 359-477.

4. The Shâh-nâma and contemporary Persian storytelling tradition (naqqâli)
Primary literature:

  • M. Afshâri & M. Madâyeni, Haft Lashgar (tumâr-e jâme`-e naqqâlan): az Kayumarth tâ Bahman, Tehran: Padzuheshgâh, 1998.

  • J. Dustkhâh (ed.), Morshed `Abbâs Zariri, Dâstân-e Rostam va Sohrâb: revâyat-e naqqalân, Tehran: 1990.

Secondary literature:

  • K. Yamamoto, The Oral Background of Persian Epics: Storytelling and Poetry. (Brill Studies in Middle Eastern Literatures, 26). Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2003, 20-52. M.A. Page, Professional Storytelling in Iran: Transmission and Practice, in Iranian Studies, Vol. xii, Nos. 3-4, 195-215. M. Omidsalar & T. Omidsalar, “Narrating epics in Iran” in Traditional storytelling Today: An International Sourcebook, Chicago & London: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1999, 326-40.

5. The Shâh-nâma and modern coffee-house painting
Primary literature:

  • H. Seyf, Coffee House Painting, Tehran: Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran, 2nd print, 1990.

Secondary literature:

  • U. Marzolph, “Illustrated Persian Lithographic Editions of the Shâhnâme” in Edebiyât _13/2, 2002, 177-198. _Shahnama: the Visual Language of the Persian Book of Kings, ed. R. Hillenbrand, Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2004.
    6. The reception of the Shâh-nâma in the twentieth century

Selected literature:

  • S.A. Enjavi-Shirâzi, Ferdowsi-nâma (mardom va Ferdowsi), 3 vols. Tehran: `Elmi (3rd printing) 1990.

  • S. Soroudi, “Islamisation of the Iranian National Hero Rustam as Reflected in Persian Folktales” in Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam, vol. 2, 365-83.

  • R. Arasteh, “The Social Role of the Zur-khana (House of strength) in Iranian Urban Communities during the Nineteenth Century” in Der Islam, 1961, 37, 256-59.
    7. Omar Khayyâm and the Persian quatrain
    Primary literature:

  • Omar Khayyâm, _Rubaiyyat_, ed. R. Aliyov & M.N.Othmanov, Mosco: Adabiyyat-e Khawar, 1959.

  • _Robâiyyât-e Khayyām_, ed. M.A. Forughi & Q. Ghani, reprinted with an intro. by B.D. Khorramshâhi, Tehran: Nâhid, 1373/1994.

Secondary literature:

  • L.P. Elwell-Sutton, “‘Omar Khayyâm” in Persian Literature, ed. E. Yarshater, Bibliotheca Persica, 1988, 147-60. Ali Dashti, In Search of Omar Khayyâm, Trans. L.P. Elwell-Sutton, London, 1971.

8. Words from the heart: Rumi’s mysticism
Primary literature:

  • Jalâl ad-Din Rumi, Kulliyyât-e Shams yâ divân-e kabir, ed. B.Z. Foruzânfar, Tehran: Enteshârât-e Dâneshgâh-e Tehran: 1336/1957.

  • Idem, _Mathnavi-ye manavi_, 6 vols., ed. M. Estelâmi, Tehran: Zawwâr, 1372/1993.

  • Shams-e Tabrizi, Maqâlât, ed. M.A. Mowahhid, Tehran: Dibâ, 1369/1990.

Secondary literature:

  • Lewis, F.D., Past and Present, East and West: the Life, Teachings and Poetry of Jalæl al-Dñn Rumi, Oxford: Oneworld, 2000. A. Schimmel, I Am Wind You are Fire: The Life and Work of Rumi, London: Shambhala, 1992.

9. Sa`di, a Persian humanist
Primary literature:

  • Mosleh ad-Din Sa`di, Bustân, ed. Gh. Yusofi, Tehran: Khwârazmi, 1375/1996.

  • Idem, Golestân, ed. Gh. Yusofi, Tehran: Khwârazmi, 1373/1994.

Secondary literature:

  • C.H., de Fouchécour, Moralia. Les notions morales dans la littérature persane du 3/9 au 7/13 siècle. Paris: 1986. J. Hadidi, Az Sadi tâ Ârâgon: ta’thir-e adabiyyât-e fârsi dar adabiyyât-e farânsa_, Tehran: Markaz-e Nashr-e Dâneshgâhi, 1373/1994. H. Javadi, _Persian Literary Influence on English Literature_, Calcutta: Iran Society, 1983. M.S. Southgate, “Men, women and Boys: Love and Sex in the Works of Sadi” in _Iranian Studies, 18/4, 1984, 413-452. J.D. Yohannan, The Poet Sa`di: A Persian Humanist. New York: Persian Studies Series, No. 11. J.D. Yohannan, Persian Poetry in England and America: A 200 Year History. New York: Caravan Books, 1977.

10. Words of the wise: Hâfez’s poetry in Persian-speaking countries
Primary literature:

  • Mohammad Shams ad-Din Hâfez, Divân, ed. P. Nâtel Khânlari, Tehran: Khwârazmi, 1362/1983.

Secondary literature:

  • Arberry, A.J., “Oriental Pearls at Random Strung” in_ Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies_, Vol. 11, London: 1943-46, 699-712. Intoxication Earthly and Heavenly: Seven studies on the Poet Hafiz of Shîrâz, ed., M. Glünz and J.C. Bürgel, Bern: Peter Lang, 1991. I. Afshar The Encyclopaedia Iranica, under Fâl-nâma.

11. Shiite devotional poetry and Persian passion-play
Primary literature:

  • Hoseyn Vâ`ez Kâshefi, Rowzat al-shohadâ’, Tehran: Islamiyya, 5th printing, 1379/2000.

  • Majâles-e ta`ziye, ii vols, compiled by H. Sâlehi-Râd, Tehran: Sorush, 1380/2001.

  • A.Q. Râdfar, Chand marthiya az shâ`erân-e pârsigu, Tehran: 2nd printing 1369/1990.

Secondary literature:

  • Ehsan Yarshater, “Ta’ziyeh and Pre-Islamic Mourning Rites in Iran” in P. Chelkowski, Ta’ziyeh: Ritual and Drama in Iran, New York: New York University Press and Soroush Press 1979, 88-94. J.G.J. ter Haar, “Taziye: Ritual Theatre from Shiite Iran” in _Theatre International: Forms, functions, Correspondences_, ed. C.C. Barfoot & C. Borderwijk, Studies in Comparative Literature 1, Amsterdam / Atlanta: Rodopi, 1993, 155-74. B. Bayzâ’i, _Namâyesh dar Irân_, Tehran: 1965. G. Kapuscinski, “Modern Persian Drama” in _Persian Literature_, ed. E. Yarshater, Bibliotheca Persica, 1988, 381-402.E.A. Shahidi, Pazduheshi dar taziye va taziye-khwâni: az âghâz tâ pâyân-e dowra-ye Qâjâr dar Tehrân, Tehran: Daftar-e pazhuheshhâ-ye farhangi, 1380/2001.

12. Poetry of war, mysticism and the cult of martyrdom
Primary literature:

  • Gozide-ye sher-e jang va defâ-e moqaddas, ed. H. Hoseyni, Tehran: Sure, 1381/2002.

    *R.A. Khomeini, Divân-e emâm, Teheran: (16th printing) 1377/1998. Secondary literature:

  • E. Kohlberg, Medieval Muslim Views on Martyrdom, Amsterdam: Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, deel 60, no. 7, 1997. M. Akbari, Naqd va tahlil-e sher: defâ-e moqaddas, Tehran: Vezârat-e Farhang, 1377/1998. A. Knysh, “Irfan Revisited: Khomeini and the Legacy of Islamic Mystical Philosophy” in The Middle East Journal, Autumn 1992, vol. 46, No. 4, 632-53. V. Martin, Creating an Islamic State: Khomeini and the Making of a New Iran, London: I.B. Tauris, 2000. Majmu`-ye maqâlahâ-ye seminâr-e barrasi-e adabiyyât-e enqelâb-e eslâmi, Qom: Mehr, 1373/9194.

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