Literary Arts (Apr 2015)
A Survey of Pen name semantic Applications in Rumis Sonnets (Ghazals)
Abstract
Abstract The pen name in sonnet is the poet’s poetic name which most of the poets mention it in their verses. Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Rumi lived in 13th-century was a Persian Moslem poet, theologian, and Sufi mystic. He has written more than 3229 sonnets and dedicated to Shams Tabrizi. Thus mentioned, names such “Shams”, “Shams od-Din” and “Shams al-Haq” in the ending lines of his sonnets. One of the points which could be studied about pen name is study of theme or concepts which are mentioned alongside that. Entirely it has been said that the same theme which comes with the pen name “Shams” in 992 sonnets. In this study, we pay attention to mentioning the poets desired name which is not necessarily the pen name in Rumis’ sonnets, what theme does it carry and what is relationship of it with the previous lines? Themes which the poets apply in their sonnets beside pen name is mostly what that has been mentioned in the previous lines. However, in times the concept mentioned along side with the pen name is independent from the sonnet concepts, mostly eulogy. Studying Hafiz and Saadi sonnets shows that the most important themes existing are: love declaration, advice, eulogizing and sometimes a mischievous concept. Rumis’ sonnets are lover-based. Therefore, there is much talk of the lover in the whole sonnet. But in other poet’s sonnets, the lover (the poet) is the main theme is the sonnet. The poet may find a way to praise his own poem or stays in his dreamy world and focuses on the romantic feelings. Considering the fact that unlike other poets Rumi has not mentioned his own pen name but his lover “Shams”, the study focuses on the themes which are mentioned by the pen name “Shams” as the following: 1-Eulogy: One third of the Shams pen names are eulogies. The sufist approach has given the lines a special color. The similes and metaphors used for him are heavenly and mystical. The following could be drawn out for the eulogizing of Shams: 1-1 Religious: The titles which Rumi has used for Shams are mostly religious such as: Shams Din, Shams al-Haq. There even have been some exaggerations in praising of Shams which were out of the usual norms at that time. There could be in different areas such as: -Designating Shams as God -Likening Shams to Prophets -Likening him to Imam Ali -His mystical and religious status by describing him with different traits 1-2 Moral: being reticent, patient, honest, kind. 1-3 Social: The evil doers cannot bear seeing him, and he was eminent and mystical. 1-4 Appearance: Although the beauty of Shams has been likened to the Kaaba, in these cases also was considered Shams’ nature. 1-5 Description of Tabriz: Maulana attributed Shams to Tabriz and described him as: The proud of Tabriz, Khosrow of Tabrizi, insight eye of Tabriz, ornament of Tabriz, sun of the east of Tabriz. 2. Love expression: Rumi has expressed his love towards Shams emphasizing these points: it is not a mundane love, their love is mutual, Rumi has given up himself to Shams and this love has enlightened him. 3. The spiritual and mystical effect of Shams. 4. Coming to Shams: pen name and inviting others to come to Shams in order to be relieved. 5. Expressing sadness and yearn for reaching him again. 6. Good news of reaching Shams: In 15 sonnets it has mentioned. 7. Requesting and begging from Shams: In 10 sonnets, Rumi desperately has asked Shams for help. 8. Advice: Rarely has been given any piece of advice. 9. Talking to Shams: In some of the sonnets the theme is Rumis monologue with Shams. Studying the themes which are used with pen name of Shmas shows that the most being used are: eulogy, expression of love, the spiritual power of Shams, persuading and inviting to Shams, expressing sadness for Shams, the happiness for reaching Shams, Requesting from Shams, Advice and talking with Shams. Considering the themes of Shams pen name shows that always the pen name is eulogized by the poem. If the poet chooses his own poetic name he would praise himself and his poetry but if like Rumi the poet chooses someone else’s such as Shams, that person would be praised all through the poet. The poet talks with his pen name, whether his own pen name or someone else such as Shams. One more point is that, considering the fact that the theme of a significant number of the sonnets is about Shams thus they also played an introducing part in making known Shams. On the relationship between the last lines which include the pen name with the earlier lines, it is worth mentioning that the line including the pen name has such as coherence with the previous lines. In a semantic point of view, the pen name Shams has an interpretational and emphasizing role, it is all about the love and the loss of lovers and at the end saying that by all it meant to be Shams
