Courtly riddles : enigmatic embellishments in early Persian poetry / A. A. Seyed-Gohrab.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Seyed-Gohrab, A. A. (Ali Asghar), 1968- author.

Series:

Iranian studies series (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Iranian studies series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Persian poetry--747-1500--History and criticism.

Persian poetry.

Riddles in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (226 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden : Leiden University Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book is the first study of Persian literary riddles to appear in English, analysing a wide range of complex riddling poems systematically from the tenth to the twelfth century. In addition to the genre of riddles, the book examines the relationship between metaphors and riddles and the genre of literary description. <br><br>Riddles belong to the oldest genre in many literary traditions. Riddles were composed at courts in the Iranian world for various purposes, such as highlighting the courtly insignia that refer to the ruler's administrative and military power. The aesthetic of puzzlement was much appreciated at courts. Through a riddle, the poet aims to demonstrate his artistic accomplishment in a short space; and at the same time he secures his social, professional and personal position at the court and in cultured circles. Literary riddles occur in the early specimens of Persian literature from the tenth century and they continue to be used in modern Iranian society.

Contents:

The eloquent mute

Inimitable simplicity

"Words covered in veils"

"A nightingale without feathers" : riddlers of the late Ghaznavid and early Seljuq periods

The virtues of the king : riddles in Mukhtaerñ's Hunar-naema

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 18 Nov 2022).

ISBN:

9786613231932

9781283231930

128323193X

9789400600102

9400600100

OCLC:

746747240