An Investigation of the Poem “Notes of Immortality Pain” by Qeysar Aminpour based on Halliday’s Theory of Functionalism

Abstract

Michael Halliday’s Functional linguistics or systematic functional linguistics as a branch of general functional theory is based on the two fundamental concepts of System and Function. In his theory, Halliday looks at the text from multiple perspectives and pays special attention to context and its intratextual and intertextual meaning. Accordingly, he identifies the three metafunctions of experiential, interpersonal, and textual for different elements of discourse. Furthermore, with a focus on the context of situation in a discourse, he considers language a totally social phenomenon. This study aims at examining Qeysar Aminpour’s poem “Notes of Immortality Pain” (Missing Notes) based on Halliday’s theory. In this poem, Aminpour represents a totally subjective and abstract theme in a tangible manner, employing the physical and materialistic elements of language. Considering the daily challenges of modern life, he tries to turn the reader’s mind to more serious challenges which are presumably neglected due to being totally submerged in daily challenges and struggles.

Keywords

• functionalism
• systematic linguistics
• literary criticism
• immortality pain
• qeysar aminpour