Examining the Position of the Storyteller and the Court Rituals Related to it during the History of Oral Literature in Iran (until the Qajar Period)

Abstract

AbstractThe Court of kings and dynasties were manifestation of ceremonial customs and occasions which pertain to the roots of literature and history of their nations. Consequently, culture and civilization of our antecedents influenced creation of their descendants' culture in sequential and continual way. Narration and storytelling, known as a notable position at the Court of Emperors and Kings and as constituents of literal customs of the court, have revived and rejuvenated the ancient tradition of oral literature. Regarding such a position, it could be said that some of the authors believe that commencement of the first period of storytelling in Iran returns to The Achaemenid Empire and Kianian Dynasty, but some others believe that it comes from The Gusans of the Parthian Empire. In following periods, since Samanid Dynasty until Ghaznavid Empire, the role of narration and storytelling was played by Zoroastrian Clerics and the mates – servants and maids – as well as reading epics. Servants or maids were to learn and acquire an agglomeration of literal issues and skills such as poems, reciting, eloquence and performance.During The Ilkhanate Era (the Mughals Dynasty), Iranian stories became more religious due to bitterness of Mughal Attacks. At the Court of Safavid Dynasty, narration and storytelling reach its peak of prosperity and then the Court of Qajar gave this position a new lease of live, titled "Reciter". This current research has tried to investigate and study this position and its evolutions their ceremonial customs at the court of Iranian Kings.

Keywords

• keywords: storyteller
• narrator
• oral literature
• literary relations
• court