Didactic functions of myth in Molavi’s Mathnavi

Subject Areas : شاهنامه

foroogh sahba ¹ , hosain parizad ²

1 - دانشگاه اراک
2 - دانشگاه اراک

Received: 2016-05-08 Accepted : 2016-05-08 Published : 2015-03-01

Keywords: myth, Mathnavi, Didactic Literature, Magic, ritual,

Abstract :

Expressing moral and didactic teachings is one of the wildly intends and purposes in the Persian poetry. Poets with regard to this have verified, consolidated and developed moral and didactic teachings by using various backings. The aim of the present article is to study the functions of myth believes in the Mathnavi Manavi. This has been done by using analytic – descriptive method in two areas of Beliefs and mythical creatures. How Molavi has used them, their characteristics and the way of applying them in line with didactic literature have been investigated.in Mathnavi Manavi , the field of myth in the line with didactic and moral  goals  is very widespread. Behaviors and beliefs concerning magic myth and its variants, banging on drums during a lunar eclipse and ...are put within the field of beliefs. Molavi made use of their characteristics in explaining the propositions such as self-blame, worldliness; avoid deceiving from them and awaking from negligence. In the field of mythical creatures fairy and giant are among the most frequently used creatures in Mathnavi. Molavi has used them in line with didactic goals and expressing moral propositions such as invitation to  consciousness and the necessity of strengthen internal insight. Didactic explication of myth not only deepens this piece of literary work but also relieves it from monotonous nature of didactic text types. Molavi’s didactic mentality causes this field of human thought to be used in line with didactic goals creatively.