Analysis of Narration in the Poem “Parya” by Ahmed Shamlou

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

10.22126/rp.2025.11415.2031

Abstract

The current study shows that nearly most of the great contemporary poets have shown interest in writing narrative poetry and paid attention to the types of narrative poetry in the field of content and structure. Besides, the most important types of narratives in the contemporary period have been semi-literal and white poetry. The most important reason for the importance of this category is the poet's freedom from the restrictions of lines and rhymes in new poetry and this way, the poet can write the longest stories and anecdotes in the form of a poem that is free from the constraints of rhymes and lines. Ahmad Shamlou was a trend-setting poet in his era, and in this research, the narrative types in Shamlou's poem "Parya" have been investigated. The research is based on a library-based methodology, followed by a document analysis, and its type is descriptive-analytical. The question of the research is the structural types of contemporary narrative poetry in the poetry of “Parya” by Ahmad Shamlou. The types of contemporary narrative poetry are structurally divided into two types of "external" and "internal" in this poem. Using the power and skill of his story-telling, Shamlou has presented the most beautiful structural and content types of narrative poetry to the literary society.
Introduction
Narrative poetry is one of the poems that have been at the center of attention in Shamlu's poems, in which the poet’s particular style of writing has been used. Therefore, according to its proportion, the two factors of narratology and story elements in his poetry have been taken care of.
 The research mainly addresses the meaning of narrative poetry in contemporary Persian poetry and its place in this regard. Also addressed, are the structural types of contemporary narrative poetry in the poem "Parya" and their characteristics and examples.
The types of contemporary narrative poetry are structurally divided into "external" and "internal" types. The external genre is divided into "Nimaie poetry, white poetry, sonnet, and quatrain-narrative" according to the format, and also divided into "narrative, story, and debate" according to the narrative technique.
This research aims to examine the narration in the poem "Parya" by Ahmad Shamlou and by introducing the types used in narrative poetry, it will open a new horizon for students and those interested in Persian language and literature to get a better understanding of it. It can also be referred to as a step towards paying more attention to its types in contemporary narrative poetry. The research questions are:

What does narrative poetry mean in contemporary Persian poetry and what is its place?
What are the structural types of contemporary narrative poetry in Parya Ahmad Shamlou's poetry?
What are the characteristics and examples of each?

According to studies conducted, there have been works on narrative and narrative poetry, as well as typology, in general. Apart from general works, several works have dealt with the typology of poems, but none of them has specifically paid attention to the analysis of contemporary narrative poetry (Ahmad Shamloo and Parya's poetry).
Method
O The study method in this research is descriptive-analytical.
O The study has been carried out in a library and a form of data collection
O The results are written in detail in the conclusion.
Conclusion
By examining the narrative poetry in Ahmad Shamlou's poem "Priya", we come to the conclusion that Shamlou has paid attention to the types and types of narrative poetry and is committed to writing a poem with a narrative structure like a story. One of the most important reasons that Shamlu paid attention to narration in poetry was the possibility of symbolization in narrative poetry, because considering the introduction of political and social themes into contemporary poetry, as well as suppressions and suffocations. which was observed in the society, Shamlu turns to narrative poetry to express his reformist opinions and approaches, so that he can express his desired concepts in the envelope of story-like poems in a narrative atmosphere and to state unreal. Ahmed Shamlou has conducted a test in the field of narrative poetry. Shamlou can be considered one of the standard-bearers of narrative poetry in the contemporary period.
Results
By examining narrative poetry in the poetry of “Parya” by Ahmad Shamlou, the researchers have come to the conclusion that Shamlou has paid attention to the types and varieties of narrative poetry and has strived to compose poetry with a narrative structure like a story. One of the most important reasons that Shamlou has paid attention to narrative in poetry has been the possibility of symbolism in narrative poetry. Due to considering the introduction of political and social themes into contemporary poetry and also the suppressions and repressions that were observed in society, Shamlou turns to narrative poetry to express his reformist views and approaches so that he can express his desired concepts in the envelope of story-like poems and in a narrative and unrealistic atmosphere. Ahmad Shamlou has experimented different types of narrative poetry and can be referred to as one of the pioneers of narrative poetry in the contemporary period. The types of contemporary narrative poetry in Pariya Shamloo's poetry are structurally divided into two types: "external" and "internal." Using her storytelling power and skill, Shamloo has presented the most beautiful structural and content types of narrative poetry to the literary community.

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