1
Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)
2
Master’s degree in Persian Language Education, Farhangian University, Shahid Mofatteh Campus, Tehran, Iran.
10.22075/jlrs.2025.37434.2640
Abstract
This study proposes that Persian poetry can be analyzed beyond traditional stylistic classifications by identifying two primary currents: simple poetry (she'r-e sāde) and ornate poetry (she'r-e masnu'). While early Persian poetry (e.g., Rudaki, Ferdowsi) was characterized by simplicity and fluency, from the 5th century AH (11th century CE) onward, these two currents coexisted or alternated throughout Persian literary history. Over these centuries, the dominance of each current fluctuated from era to era. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, this article traces the evolution of both currents from the inception of Persian poetry and examines the contextual factors that, in each century, led poets to adopt one of these two styles. The findings reveal that socio-political and economic contexts in each era significantly influenced poets' tendencies toward either simple or ornate poetry. For instance, periods of political instability or economic decline often coincided with a shift toward simpler, more accessible forms of expression, while eras of cultural flourishing or court patronage encouraged elaborate, technically intricate compositions. The article further analyzes the structural elements of both poetic types, identifying the contextual factors behind their formation and elucidating the reasons for their respective significance.
kamalinahad, A. & Ghasemi, M. (2026). The Role of Context in Tracing the Development of Simple and Ornate Persian Poetry. Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies, 17(44), 297–324. https://doi.org/10.22075/jlrs.2025.37434.2640
MLA
kamalinahad, A., & Ghasemi, M. "The Role of Context in Tracing the Development of Simple and Ornate Persian Poetry", Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies, 17, 44, 2026, 297–324. doi: 10.22075/jlrs.2025.37434.2640
HARVARD
kamalinahad, A., & Ghasemi, M. (2026). 'The Role of Context in Tracing the Development of Simple and Ornate Persian Poetry', Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies, 17(44), pp. 297–324. doi: 10.22075/jlrs.2025.37434.2640
CHICAGO
kamalinahad, A. & Ghasemi, M., "The Role of Context in Tracing the Development of Simple and Ornate Persian Poetry." Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies, 17 44 (2026): 297–324, doi: 10.22075/jlrs.2025.37434.2640
VANCOUVER
kamalinahad A., Ghasemi M. The Role of Context in Tracing the Development of Simple and Ornate Persian Poetry. Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies. 2026;17(44):297–324 (In Persian). doi: 10.22075/jlrs.2025.37434.2640