Ferdowsi's Shahnameh on the scahes of criticism in diffetent sources

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PHD student

2 Associate Professor at Mazandaran University

3 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran

Abstract

In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Fereydoun is described as a glorious warrior-king who, based on his most important prophecy, defeats Zahak (or Dhahak); the most demonic character of this national epic. He then imprisons him in Mount Damavand and goes through other adventures.

Fereydun's adventures, apart from Shahnameh, have been narrated in other ways; in pre-Islamic manuscripts as well as historical and post-Islamic chronicles, both in brief and detailed which in some parts, exhibit similarities and differences with Ferdowsi's original narration.

Based on the source critical approach, this paper tries to compare the narrative of the Shahnameh with other narrations close to Ferdowsi’s era and as well as sources of pre-Shahnameh era, in order to show the differences and to state the possible reasons for these differences demonstrating possible sources and eventually to particularly investigate the storyline in detail.

The results of this paper show that although in most parts and details of the story, Ferdowsi was more faithful to the ancient pre-Islamic origins of the narrative compared to other narrators who, under the influence of Islamic teachings and sources, intervened in the original narration and Islamized it. but He, by avoiding mythological details, has delivered a more sensible narrative and its storyline.

Keywords: National epic, Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Fereydoun, Zahak (Dhahak)

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Literary Text Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 July 2023

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