A Comparative Study of “Shohare Ahoo Khanoom” and “Sister Carrie” Novels based on the Literary Creativity

Abstract

'Creativity' in comparative literature is the difference between imitating and being influenced, and the creative author is said to be inspired by the others’ work, and nurture what they borrowed from another in the social and cultural construction of their society in a new way. The similarity in layout and plot of these two novels “Shohare Ahoo Khanoom” (1961) by Ali Mohammad Afghani and “Sister Carrie” (1900) by Theodore Dreiser, makes it possible to compare these two works in comparative literature. This article argues that Afghani in writing the novel “Shohare Ahoo Khanoom”, has been directly affected by Dreiser’s first work and has domesticated this American novel’s plot and narration in the cultural and social context of Iran. Despite the common points observed in the narrative plot and characterization method of these two novels, especially the two characters, “Homa” and “Carrie”, there are also some differences in these two works that are more related to the differences in the social and cultural conditions of their authors.

Keywords

• comparative literature
• literary creativity
• shohare ahoo khanoom
• sister carrie