A study of the structural similarities between the story of Zahak Shahnameh with the story of "The Lion and the Rabbit" by Kelileh Woodmaneh and the Indian story of "Bahim Sin and Bakeh" by Mahabharata

Subject Areas : Comparative Literature Studies

Tayebeh Rahmani ¹ , Soheila Mousavi Sirjani ² , Abdolhossein Farzad ³

1 - PhD student in Persian language and literature, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Institute of Humanities and Social Studies.

Received: 2021-06-11 Accepted : 2021-06-11 Published : 2021-05-22

Keywords: Myth, symbol, comparative literature, Zahak Story, Lion and Cow, Behim Sin and Bakeh,

Abstract :

  The presence of animals in human life has caused these creatures to serve human thoughts first in mythical life and then symbolically. Kelileh Woodman is one of the works in which animals have played a role. Due to the rich culture and history of ancient civilizations, Iran and India, the same and common myths can be seen in these two cultures. Given that the main theme is often common myths. Myths are very similar not only in content but also in structure. In this research, with descriptive-analytical method and library method, common roots and symbols in Zahak story with the story of "The Lion and the Rabbit" by Kelileh Woodmaneh and "Behim Sin and Bakeh" Mahabharata have been compared in terms of mythology and common cases have been analyzed and deciphered. . Kelilehudmaneh anecdotes have always been of interest to the authors of Persian texts and have created a bridge between Indian and Iranian culture. In this article, the roots of the story of "the lion and the rabbit" with the story of Behima and Bakeh (Mahabharata) and Fereydoun and Zahak (Shahnameh) in Indian and Iranian mythology have been searched and analyzed and deciphered. Their similarity is that a powerful tyrant (king or demon) kills a number of inhabitants (city / forest) every day to feed himself; The inhabitants of the city / forest send one or two people to him every day so that he does not harm others, and eventually one of the cruel prey causes his death and destruction.