Persian literature facts for kids

Kelileh va Demneh Persian manuscript copy dated 1429, depicts the Jackal trying to lead the Lion astray. Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

A scene from the Shahnameh describing the valour of Rustam

Persian literature is a huge collection of stories, poems, and writings in the Persian language. It's one of the oldest literatures in the world, going back more than 2,500 years! This rich tradition comes from a wide area, including modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Turkey and India.

Many famous Persian poets like Ferdowsi, Saadi, Hafiz, Rumi, and Omar Khayyam are known and loved around the world. Their works have even inspired writers in many other countries. Persian literature is considered one of the greatest literatures ever created.

Ancient Persian Literature

Early Writings from Persia

Not many literary works from ancient Iran (during the Achaemenid Empire) have survived. This is partly because a famous library in Persepolis was destroyed. Most of what we still have are royal writings from kings like Darius I and Xerxes. These writings date back to about 522 BCE.

Many old Zoroastrian religious texts were also lost during the Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century. However, some followers of Zoroastrianism, called Parsis, took some of their holy books, like the Avesta, with them when they moved to India.

Literary Ideas in Ancient Persia

We don't have any specific books about how to judge literature from ancient Iran. But some old writings, like "Ayin-e name nebeshtan" (Principles of Writing Book), had ideas that were like early literary criticism. Some people also believe that ancient Persians had books about good writing and speaking, but no copies of these books exist today.

Medieval Persian Literature

The Rebirth of Persian Writing

After the Muslim conquest of Persia, Arabic became very important. But soon, New Persian started to become a major language for literature again. This rebirth is often credited to poets like Ferdowsi, Rudaki, and others. They used stories from ancient Iran to bring back the language and customs.

Persian Poetry's Popularity

Bahram Gur and Courtiers Entertained by Barbad the Musician, Page from a manuscript of the Shahnama of Ferdowsi. Brooklyn Museum.

Persians loved poetry so much that you can find verses in almost every old book, whether it's about literature, science, or philosophy. Being able to write poetry was a must for any scholar! For example, about half of the famous doctor Avicenna's medical writings are in verse.

Early Persian poetry was often supported by kings and rulers. Poets would write long poems praising them. The Qasida was a common type of praise poem. Short poems called quatrains, like those by Omar Khayyam in his Ruba'iyyat, were also very popular.

A style called Khorasani style was known for its fancy words and serious tone. Poets like Rudaki were famous for their love of nature, filling their poems with vivid descriptions.

Epic Stories in Verse

This period also saw the rise of epic poetry, with Ferdowsi's Shahnama (Book of Kings) being the most famous. This epic tells the heroic history of Iran in grand verses. Ferdowsi and other poets helped Iranians feel proud of their past and keep their identity alive through these stories.

The Rise of Lyrical Poetry

The 13th century brought a new focus on lyrical poetry, especially the ghazal. This style often explored mystical and Sufi themes. It's known for being emotional, having rich rhythms, and using simpler language. Poets like Rumi, Saadi, and Hafiz Shirazi were masters of this style.

Some love poems from this time were about young men, often pages or soldiers, who served in royal courts. These poems were a common part of lyrical poetry.

Didactic poetry, which aims to teach a lesson, also became popular. Sanai's Garden of Truth and Nizami's Treasury of Secrets are examples. Saadi's Bustan and Gulistan are also famous teaching books.

After the 15th century, a style called Indian style became popular. Poets like Amir Khosrow Dehlavi wrote in this style.

Important Prose Writings

Some important prose writings from this time include Nizami Arudhi Samarqandi's "Chahār Maqāleh" and Zahiriddin Nasr Muhammad Aufi's collection of stories, Jawami ul-Hikayat.

The Qabus nama is a highly respected book that offers advice to princes. Another important work is Siyasatnama, written by the famous vizier (a high-ranking official) Nizam al-Mulk. Kelileh va Demneh, a collection of folk tales translated from India, is also well-known for its wise sayings.

Biographies and History Books

Many historical and biographical works were written in classical Persian. These include Abolfazl Beyhaghi's Tarikh-i Beyhaqi and Ata-Malik Juvayni's Tarikh-i Jahangushay-i Juvaini, which tells about the Mongol era in Iran. Attar's Tazkerat-ol-Owliya ("Biographies of the Saints") is a detailed book about Sufi mystics.

Early Literary Criticism

The oldest surviving work of Persian literary criticism after the Islamic conquest is Muqaddame-ye Shahname-ye Abu Mansuri. It talks about the myths and legends in the Shahnameh and shows early attempts to review literary works.

Famous Storytelling: One Thousand and One Nights

One Thousand and One Nights (also known as Arabian Nights) is a famous collection of folk tales. It tells the story of Scheherazade, a queen who tells stories to her husband, King Shahryar, to avoid being executed. She tells a story each night, ending it with a cliffhanger so the King keeps her alive to hear the rest.

The main part of this collection comes from an old Persian book called Hazār Afsānah (Thousand Myths). This book was a collection of ancient Indian and Persian folk tales. During the time of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid in the 8th century, many of these stories were gathered and put into one book.

Persian Dictionaries

The biggest Persian dictionary is the Dehkhoda Dictionary, which has 16 volumes and over 27,000 pages! It was first published in 1931 and shows how the Persian language has changed over time. It's a huge help for scholars and researchers.

Some of the earliest Persian dictionaries, like Farhang-i Oim, date back to the 3rd-7th centuries. In the Middle Ages, the most used dictionaries were by Abu Hafs Sughdi and Asadi Tusi.

After the 14th century, fewer Persian dictionaries were made in Iran. But many more were created in India and Ottoman Turkey, where Persian was becoming more popular.

Today, English-Persian dictionaries by Manouchehr Aryanpour and Soleiman Haim are widely used in Iran.

Persian Proverbs

Persian culture has many wise sayings, or proverbs. Here are a few examples:

How Persian Literature Influenced the World

Sufi Literature's Reach

Many famous medieval Persian poets were Sufis, who are mystics seeking a deeper connection with God. Their poetry was, and still is, read by Sufis from Morocco to Indonesia. Rumi, for example, is famous as both a poet and the founder of a Sufi order. The themes and styles of this spiritual poetry have been copied by many other poets.

Impact on Georgian Literature

Georgian manuscript of Shahnameh written in the Georgian script

Starting in the 16th century, Persian traditions greatly influenced the rulers of Georgia. This led to Persian influences on Georgian art, buildings, and literature.

The famous Persian epic Shahnameh had a big impact on Georgian culture. Many heroes from the Shahnameh, like Rostam, appear in Georgian literature. The Shahnameh was translated into Georgian not just for reading, but also to inspire young people with heroism and patriotism. Georgians even consider these translations part of their own literature.

Influence in Asia Minor

Even though Persian was not widely spoken in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) after the fall of the Sasanian Empire, it made a strong comeback centuries later. The Seljuks, a Turkish dynasty, brought Persian language, art, and literature to Anatolia. They made Persian the official language of their empire.

The Ottomans, who came after the Seljuks, continued this tradition. Persian was the official court language for a long time. Educated and noble people in the Ottoman Empire spoke Persian. Many Persian literary works were created during the Ottoman rule.

Persian Literature in South Asia

With the rise of dynasties like the Ghaznavids and Mughals, Persian culture and literature spread into South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh). Persian became the language of the nobility, literary groups, and the royal Mughal courts for hundreds of years. It was only in 1832 that the British army made English the official language for business in South Asia.

Persian poetry actually thrived in these regions, even when it was slowing down in Iran after the Safavid era. Many Persian dictionaries and scholarly works were created in India.

Persian Literature in the Balkans

Persian learning was also common in the Balkans (parts of modern-day Bosnia, Greece, and Kosovo) when they were under Ottoman rule. Cities like Sarajevo and Mostar were known for their long traditions of studying Persian and its classic works.

One town, Vardar Yenicesi, was special because Persian was widely spoken there. This version of Persian was different from formal Persian and was called "Rumelian Persian." Many Ottoman scholars learned Persian in places like Sarajevo.

Impact on Western Literature

Before the 18th and 19th centuries, Persian literature wasn't well-known in the West. But after several translations of medieval Persian poets were published, it became much more famous and inspired Western writers.

German Literature's Connection

• In 1819, Goethe published his West-östlicher Divan, a collection of poems inspired by the Persian poet Hafiz.
• The German philosopher Nietzsche wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883–1885), which refers to the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster.

English Literature's Inspiration

• Parts of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh were translated into English in 1832.
• The British poet Matthew Arnold later wrote his poem Rustam and Sohrab (1853) based on this translation.
• The American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson also admired Persian poetry and wrote essays about it.

Perhaps the most popular Persian poet in the West during the 19th and early 20th centuries was Omar Khayyam. His Rubaiyat was famously translated by Edward Fitzgerald in 1859. Khayyam is known more as a scientist in Persia, but Fitzgerald's translation made him a widely quoted poet in English. His line, "A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou," is very famous.

The Persian poet and mystic Rumi has become very popular in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His poems are often translated and read by people interested in spiritual wisdom.

Swedish Literature's Translations

Over the last century, many classical Persian works have been translated into Swedish by Eric Hermelin. He translated works by Farid al-Din Attar, Rumi, Ferdowsi, and others. These translations have influenced many modern Swedish writers.

Italian Literature's Contributions

Many classical and modern Persian works have also been translated into Italian. Scholars like Alessandro Bausani and Carlo Saccone have translated poets such as Nizami, Rumi, and Hafiz. A full translation of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh was done by Italo Pizzi in the 19th century.

Modern Persian Literature

Changes in Persian Writing

In the 19th century, Persian literature began to change a lot. Leaders like Amir Kabir felt that poetry needed to reflect the changing times and help Iran modernize. They believed that traditional poetry was holding society back.

This new movement was influenced by intellectual ideas and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1906–1911). Many people felt that Persian poetry should show the realities of a country in transition. Writers like Ali-Akbar Dehkhoda and Abolqasem Aref started to challenge old poetic forms and introduce new ideas. They were inspired by changes in Western literature but adapted them to fit Iranian culture.

Persian Literature in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Persian literature also saw big changes in the 20th century. In 1911, Mahmud Tarzi started a publication called Saraj’ul Akhbar. This newspaper helped bring new ideas and modernization to journalism and literature. It encouraged poetry to explore personal thoughts and social issues.

Later, literary groups were formed in Herat and Kabul. While some traditional writers resisted, new styles slowly found their way into Afghan literature. Poets like Khalil Ullah Khalili started experimenting with modern forms. The first book of new poems in Afghanistan was published in 1957.

Persian Literature in Tajikistan

Modern poetry in Tajikistan often focuses on people's lives and revolutionary ideas. In the 1960s, modern Iranian poetry and the works of Mohammad Iqbal Lahouri had a strong impact on Tajik poetry. This was a very rich period for new themes and forms. Some prominent Tajik poets include Golrokhsar Safi Eva and Layeq Shir-Ali.

Playwriting in Persia

Some well-known playwrights in Persian literature include:

• Bahram Beyzai
• Akbar Radi
• Gholam-Hossein Sa'edi

Famous Novelists

Many talented novelists have shaped modern Persian literature:

• Mohammad-Ali Jamalzadeh
• Sadeq Hedayat
• Simin Daneshvar
• Mahmoud Dowlatabadi
• Houshang Golshiri
• Zoya Pirzad

Satire in Persian Literature

Persian satire uses humor and wit to criticize society. Famous satirists include:

• Dehkhoda
• Obeid Zakani
• Hadi Khorsandi

Literary Criticism in Persia

Literary criticism involves analyzing and evaluating literary works. Early pioneers in the 19th century included Mirza Fath `Ali Akhundzade. In the 20th century, important critics like Abdolhossein Zarrinkoub and Shahrokh Meskoob helped develop comparative literature and modern criticism in Persia.

Mohammad Taghi Bahar's book Sabk Shenasi (Stylistics) is a key work on the history of Persian literary prose.

Persian Short Stories

Modern Persian short stories have developed through three main stages: a beginning period, a period of growth, and a period of diversity. Today, Iranian writers are influenced by Western literature and are exploring new genres like post-modern writing and speculative fiction.

Modern Persian Poetry

Nima Yushij is known as the father of modern Persian poetry. He brought in new techniques and forms that changed poetry from its traditional style. His ideas were popularized by poets like Ahmad Shamlou.

Nima's changes freed Persian poetry from strict rules about rhythm and rhyme. He wanted poetry to have a "natural identity" and reflect modern life. He believed that old formal techniques limited creativity.

Ahmad Shamlou continued Nima's work. He developed the Sepid poem (white poem), which is even freer than Nima's style. It avoids strict rhythms and uses more "natural" language, almost like prose, but still keeps its poetic feel.

According to poet Simin Behbahani, Sepid poetry became widely accepted after Bijan Jalali's works. Behbahani herself helped develop the ghazal style by adding everyday topics and conversations to her poems.

Mehdi Akhavan-Sales helped connect the old Khorassani style with Nima's new style. He is considered one of the best modern Persian poets and a pioneer of free verse.

Forough Farrokhzad is very important in Iranian literary history. She was one of the first to embrace Nima's new poetry style, experimenting with rhyme and imagery. She also explored acting, painting, and filmmaking.

Fereydoon Moshiri is known for bringing together classical Persian poetry with Nima's new style. His poetry helped broaden the topics and reach of modern Persian literature.

Mohammad-Reza Shafiei-Kadkani is another notable poet who blends influences from old masters like Hafiz with modern styles. He uses simple, lyrical language and is often inspired by political events.

In the 21st century, a new generation of Iranian poets continues to write in the modern style, gaining international attention through translations.

Post-Modern Persian Poetry

In the 1990s, a new movement called Postmodern Ghazal began. It changed the traditional balance of rhythm and rhyme, focusing more on the language itself. Poets like Reza Barahani and Ali Abdolrezaei are key figures in this movement.

Children's Poetry

In modern times, children's poetry in Persian has grown a lot. Poets like Mahmoud Kianoosh and Abbas Yamini Sharif write for young children, and Babak Niktalab writes for teenagers.

Persian Literature Awards

Many awards celebrate excellence in Persian literature:

• Sadegh Hedayat Award
• National Ferdowsi Prize
• Houshang Golshiri Award
• Iran's Annual Book Prize
• Parvin Etesami Award
• Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Awards
• Golden Pen Awards

Images for kids

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  Bowl of Reflections, early 13th century. Brooklyn Museum

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  "In life there are certain sores which slowly erode the mind in solitude like a kind of canker. " The Blind Owl