The Structure of Persian Prose Romances

Abstract

In the Persian literary canon, there are seven prose romances that relate to different historical periods. In addition to the time difference in the narrative of each romance, their large volume and geographical scope have given them a variety of structural characteristics. In Iranian society, narratives of romance have been shaped in a variety of ways by intellectual and cultural developments. Yet, the mythical structure of the romance retains a fixed pattern. Using Straussian structuralism, this article examines the minima of Persian prose romances. In terms of the main structure of these texts, the findings indicate that they are based on initiation ceremonies or recognition of heroism. Typically, a hero with a motive, most often one longingly wished for by a beloved, embarks on a long journey, endures hardships and challenges, and ultimately returns home triumphantly. Comparative analysis of stories allows one to reconstruct their deep structure, which is a desire for immortality and perfection.

Keywords

• prose romance
• structuralism
• mytheme
• initiation ceremony
• deep structure