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A Study of the Function and Evolution of Epic in Historical Novels from 1905 to 1953
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Hasan Shahryâri *1  , Kiânoush Beirânvand2 |
1- Qom University, Qom, Iran , hasanshahriari@samt.ac.ir
2- Qom University, Qom, Iran |
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Abstract: (1756 Views) |
Epic stories and ideas have capacities that partly nourish revolutionary and liberation movements and partly serve antihuman, dictatorial systems and various forms of fundamentalism. The epic potential of Iranian stories, depending on the needs of each period, has manifested itself occasionally in epic poems, at times between the lines of historical works, and at other times as novels and historical stories. The historical fiction, as one of the newly emerging literary genres in the Qajar period, maintains a deep connection with epic narratives and ideas, and writers have made use of it with different aims and methods. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a study aimed at examining the goals of the writers, how they were used, and even the developments that led to the epic and epic ideas in these works. This study was conducted using library sources and a descriptive-analytical and comparative method. The findings indicate that in the first period of historical novels (1905–1921), considering the danger of the destruction of Iranian identity in the face of foreigners, authors sought to promote epic ideas with an educational view to create a spirit of resistance, unity, and defense of the homeland, while in the second period (1921–1941), the epic element functioned as a tool at the service of the court and the expression of the nationalist ideas of the first Pahlavi era. In the third period (1941–1953), under the influence of the Allied occupation of Iran and the weakening of the court, epic ideas declined, and stories and ayyar (rogue) heroes replaced epic thought and heroic champions.
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| Keywords: Epic, Historical Novel, Šâhnâmeh, Ayyâri (Rogue Tradition), Qajar Period |
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Full-Text [PDF 340 kb]
(8 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
سایر
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