Semantic and Aesthetic Function of Constellation in Rumi’s Sonnet

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

Astronomical elements and expressions have always had a remarkable presence in the content and form of national literatures, especially Persian poetry. Full perception of a majority of poems highly depends on understanding the semantic relations and aesthetic details of the used astronomical issues and phenomena. Therefore, the present study aims to explain semantic and aesthetic functions of constellations, as an important and determinative part of astronomical issues in Rumi’s sonnets. Being a descriptive-analytical research, the current study reveals that Rumi has used the names of constellations 117 times. The most frequent ones include Aries (whose contemporaneity with the sun depicts an impressive image), Leo, Taurus, and Libra. The most important implicit contents by these constellations are related to spiritual resuscitation, approximation, mystical love, demand, benefits of the leader’s presence, and criticizing carnal possessions and the condemned world. Considering Rumi’s mystical-eloquent use of constellation names in the verses containing several images, figural function of constellation names has higher frequency, 139 times, the most significant of which are depicted in the form of symbol, ambiguity, irony, and simile. Multiple imagery, including symbolic similes, irony-symbol, and simile-irony is remarkable in his sonnets. Rumi has benefited from symbols in other images. Moreover, he has emphasized irony notably. The names of some constellations have also been used in ambiguous structure, especially proportionality.

Keywords

References

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The Journal Of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies
Volume 13, Issue 29
October 2022
Pages 303-330

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