Volume 10, Issue 46 (2022)
CFL 2022, 10(46): 57-90 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Jahandideh A. The Structure of Balaach Epic Story Motif. CFL 2022; 10 (46) :57-90
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-64729-en.html
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-64729-en.html
Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature Department, Chabahar University of Maritime and Marine Sciences, Chabahar, Iran. , jahandideh@cmu.ac.ir
Abstract: (1297 Views)
History of the research
The present research is conducted based on Baloch oral narratives and songs of minstrels known as "Pahlavans". The main source of the story is the narrative of the minstrel known as "Kamalan Hout" popular mainly at the center and south of Balochistan. In the present article, we have stated the content and analyzed the main motifs of the story using the descriptive and analytical methods and sometimes using the comparative study according to the existing poems and narrations and collection of data extracted by library studies.
Aims, questions, and hypothese:
Balochi verse stories are a part of Iranian literature being unknown for non-Baloch and Iranians. In addition to popularization of Baloch culture and literature, publication of these poems can result in more acceptable conclusions in research adapting some similar stories in Iranian literature. In this research, we try to answer the following questions:
1. Which Iranian nations the Bālāč epic belong to?
2. What is the place of the story in Balochi literature?
3. What are the main motifs of the story?
Introduction of Bālāč story
The story has four main heroes: Dōdā, Bālāč, Nakibō and Bibagr. In Balochi culture and literature, Dōdā is the symbol of dedication and protection, Bālāč is the symbol of retaliation, Nakibō is the symbol of loyal friend, and Bibagr is the symbol of dictatorship and depredation.
Dōdā and Bālāč were brothers and Dōdā was older and newlywed, and Bālāč was 12 years old. To revenge his brother's death killed to defend him, Bālāč only had Nakibō by his side, his butler. Hence, they agreed to revenge his death. They first resorted to the famous Sufi "Osman Marvandi" known as "Qalandar Laal Shahbaz". They both went to his tomb in Sēvan. To attract the cooperation of Nakibō, Bālāč made a big promise to him: he swore in Laal Shahbaz court that if Nakibō helps to kill the murderer of his brother, he will give Dōdā's widow wife, horse, clothe, and throne to him.
Bālāč asked Laal Shahbaz once to give him a power to run so fast to take the deer. His prayer was granted and he could take deer in the plain. Therefore, Bālāč trusted his power and asked the permission of Shahbaz to leave there to take part in battle. After bearing many hardships, Bālāč and Nakibō could revenge the brother's death finally. Sometime later, Nakibō said to Bālāč: "you promised me to let me marry Dōdā's widow after overcoming the enemy. Now, it's the time to do as you promised".
Bālāč thought if Dōdā's widow married Nakibō, he would be reprimanded by people saying: Bālāč made Dōdā's widow marry his butler. To get rid of the irritating thoughts of Nakibō's good deeds, Bālāč put an arrow in the bow and shot it at Nakibō's chest and he died. Betraying his loyal friend, Bālāč broke his oath in Laal Shahbaz court, he picked his arrow and bow to return to his homeland. However, due to breaking his oath, his eyes came out of his sockets and fell on the soil when he had only taken about seven steps. Then, he crawled toward Nakibō and regretted it. Finally, he died beside him due to the pain and sorrow.
Main discussion
Epic is one of the main types of literature of which various definitions are offered by researchers. Epic is a narrative poem with the heroic theme and national feature in which unusual events are happening (Shafiei Kadkani, 1993, p.9). Bālāč epic is one of the most famous Balochi epic stories existing for hundreds of years.
Today, in literature studies and research, motifs and their function are the most important issues to study and analyze the literary works. A motif is the element, event, speech, subject or theme repeated in literary works and is often evident in one or more stories concurrently or non-concurrently in the stories of one age or different ages, the stories of one nation or different nations, and sometimes in special types of stories (Parsanasab, 2009, p. 23)
Motifs are similar in the world's literature, because the circulation of literature works originates from common needs of audiences and is affected by the unconscious collective fact of humans in different eras so that common archetypes lead to similar motifs (Dori, 2019, p. 82)
According to the definition, motifs of Bālāč story are very diverse, but since the story is epic, heroism and epic motifs are more prominent.
Conclusions
Bālāč story is the most famous Balochi epics. Over time, narrators have used epic, heroic, dignified and wonderful motifs to narrate it and have made it dynamic. The story includes supernatural and miracle features so that the story's events are mixed with supernatural themes. In the story, epic and heroic motifs are more frequent due to their epic. Motifs of Bālāč epic include: epic motifs such as hero, bravery, revenge, fast run, deception, night battles, unique horse, bearing hardships, swearing, warfare skills, taking an oath and fraternity; dignity motifs such as meeting the saints, hearing revelations and prediction, prayer and its granting, dream; wonderful motifs such as Bālāč's eyes coming out of his sockets after breaking his oath, and Bālāč and Nakibō being invincible against the powerful enemy. The main motif of the story is taking revenge.
Bibliography
Dori, N., & Zareapour, P. (2019). Comparative study of common motifs in court love literature (Tristan and Iseult Romance and Khosro and Shirin Poem). Farhangestan Comparative Literature Review, 9(1), 81-105.
Parsanasab, M. (2009). Motif: definitions, types, functions. The Quarterly Journal of Literary Criticism, 5, 7-41.
Shafiei Kadkani, M. (1993). Types of literature. Persian Language and Literature Education Review, 32, 4-9.
The present research is conducted based on Baloch oral narratives and songs of minstrels known as "Pahlavans". The main source of the story is the narrative of the minstrel known as "Kamalan Hout" popular mainly at the center and south of Balochistan. In the present article, we have stated the content and analyzed the main motifs of the story using the descriptive and analytical methods and sometimes using the comparative study according to the existing poems and narrations and collection of data extracted by library studies.
Aims, questions, and hypothese:
Balochi verse stories are a part of Iranian literature being unknown for non-Baloch and Iranians. In addition to popularization of Baloch culture and literature, publication of these poems can result in more acceptable conclusions in research adapting some similar stories in Iranian literature. In this research, we try to answer the following questions:
1. Which Iranian nations the Bālāč epic belong to?
2. What is the place of the story in Balochi literature?
3. What are the main motifs of the story?
Introduction of Bālāč story
The story has four main heroes: Dōdā, Bālāč, Nakibō and Bibagr. In Balochi culture and literature, Dōdā is the symbol of dedication and protection, Bālāč is the symbol of retaliation, Nakibō is the symbol of loyal friend, and Bibagr is the symbol of dictatorship and depredation.
Dōdā and Bālāč were brothers and Dōdā was older and newlywed, and Bālāč was 12 years old. To revenge his brother's death killed to defend him, Bālāč only had Nakibō by his side, his butler. Hence, they agreed to revenge his death. They first resorted to the famous Sufi "Osman Marvandi" known as "Qalandar Laal Shahbaz". They both went to his tomb in Sēvan. To attract the cooperation of Nakibō, Bālāč made a big promise to him: he swore in Laal Shahbaz court that if Nakibō helps to kill the murderer of his brother, he will give Dōdā's widow wife, horse, clothe, and throne to him.
Bālāč asked Laal Shahbaz once to give him a power to run so fast to take the deer. His prayer was granted and he could take deer in the plain. Therefore, Bālāč trusted his power and asked the permission of Shahbaz to leave there to take part in battle. After bearing many hardships, Bālāč and Nakibō could revenge the brother's death finally. Sometime later, Nakibō said to Bālāč: "you promised me to let me marry Dōdā's widow after overcoming the enemy. Now, it's the time to do as you promised".
Bālāč thought if Dōdā's widow married Nakibō, he would be reprimanded by people saying: Bālāč made Dōdā's widow marry his butler. To get rid of the irritating thoughts of Nakibō's good deeds, Bālāč put an arrow in the bow and shot it at Nakibō's chest and he died. Betraying his loyal friend, Bālāč broke his oath in Laal Shahbaz court, he picked his arrow and bow to return to his homeland. However, due to breaking his oath, his eyes came out of his sockets and fell on the soil when he had only taken about seven steps. Then, he crawled toward Nakibō and regretted it. Finally, he died beside him due to the pain and sorrow.
Main discussion
Epic is one of the main types of literature of which various definitions are offered by researchers. Epic is a narrative poem with the heroic theme and national feature in which unusual events are happening (Shafiei Kadkani, 1993, p.9). Bālāč epic is one of the most famous Balochi epic stories existing for hundreds of years.
Today, in literature studies and research, motifs and their function are the most important issues to study and analyze the literary works. A motif is the element, event, speech, subject or theme repeated in literary works and is often evident in one or more stories concurrently or non-concurrently in the stories of one age or different ages, the stories of one nation or different nations, and sometimes in special types of stories (Parsanasab, 2009, p. 23)
Motifs are similar in the world's literature, because the circulation of literature works originates from common needs of audiences and is affected by the unconscious collective fact of humans in different eras so that common archetypes lead to similar motifs (Dori, 2019, p. 82)
According to the definition, motifs of Bālāč story are very diverse, but since the story is epic, heroism and epic motifs are more prominent.
Conclusions
Bālāč story is the most famous Balochi epics. Over time, narrators have used epic, heroic, dignified and wonderful motifs to narrate it and have made it dynamic. The story includes supernatural and miracle features so that the story's events are mixed with supernatural themes. In the story, epic and heroic motifs are more frequent due to their epic. Motifs of Bālāč epic include: epic motifs such as hero, bravery, revenge, fast run, deception, night battles, unique horse, bearing hardships, swearing, warfare skills, taking an oath and fraternity; dignity motifs such as meeting the saints, hearing revelations and prediction, prayer and its granting, dream; wonderful motifs such as Bālāč's eyes coming out of his sockets after breaking his oath, and Bālāč and Nakibō being invincible against the powerful enemy. The main motif of the story is taking revenge.
Bibliography
Dori, N., & Zareapour, P. (2019). Comparative study of common motifs in court love literature (Tristan and Iseult Romance and Khosro and Shirin Poem). Farhangestan Comparative Literature Review, 9(1), 81-105.
Parsanasab, M. (2009). Motif: definitions, types, functions. The Quarterly Journal of Literary Criticism, 5, 7-41.
Shafiei Kadkani, M. (1993). Types of literature. Persian Language and Literature Education Review, 32, 4-9.
Article Type: پژوهشی اصیل |
Subject:
Folklore
Received: 2022/05/18 | Accepted: 2022/10/9 | Published: 2022/09/29
Received: 2022/05/18 | Accepted: 2022/10/9 | Published: 2022/09/29
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |