Volume 13, Issue 63 (2025)
CFL 2025, 13(63): 1-32 |
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Safilu M Y, Akhyani J, Eslami M, Vejdani F. Manifestations of Azerbaijani Folklore in the Poetry of Nezami Ganjavi. CFL 2025; 13 (63) :1-32
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-78227-en.html
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-78227-en.html
1- Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Iran
2- Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, iran ,j_akhyani@znu.ac.ir
2- Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, iran ,
Abstract: (60 Views)
Abstract
Folklore reflects the thoughts and desires of various social classes, formed over time based on their experiences. Due to its persuasive power and, sometimes, its literary features, folklore and its various manifestations often transcend ordinary speech and enter the literary realm of poets, occasionally creating ambiguity in their poetry. Studying folklore in the works of poets can offer insight into one of their intellectual sources and contribute to a deeper understanding of their ideas and imagination. Like many other great Persian poets, Nezami makes extensive use of proverbs, which indicate his familiarity with various cultures and referring to them in his works. In addition to Persian proverbs, manifestations of Azerbaijani folk literature are also evident in his poetry. Familiarity with the proverbs and colloquial expressions of this region can aid in a better comprehension of Nezami’s poetry. In the present article, a number of proverbs and colloquial expressions found in Nezami’s works are analyzed, and an attempt is made to provide clearer interpretations of verses containing them. Furthermore, based on the findings of this study, it can be argued that some of the proverbs attributed to Nezami in various sources are not entirely his own inventions, but rather borrowed from his cultural environment.
Keywords: Folklore; proverbs; colloquial expressions; Azerbaijani culture; Nezami Ganjavi’s poetry.
Review of Literature
Several studies have addressed the presence of Persian folk culture and literature in Nezami’s poetry. In addition to the lists of proverbs presented by Vahid Dastgerdi at the end of Nezami’s works, various dictionaries and proverb collections have discussed them in some of his verses. Independent research, including academic theses, have also been conducted in this area. Some scholars have examined Azerbaijani proverbs specifically, which are the focus of this research. Among these are the article “Words, Concepts, and Turkish Proverbs in the Works of Nezami” by Javad Hey’at, which identifies twenty Turkish proverbs in Nezami’s poetry. “Drawing Strength and Inspiration from Azerbaijani Folklore” by Sadegh Mohammadzadeh, which discusses twenty-four Turkish proverbs; and “Introducing a Forgotten Proverb in Haft Paykar and Examining Its Mythological and Folkloric Aspects” by Karimi Ghareh-Baba, which explores a specific Azerbaijani proverb from Haft Paykar through mythological and cultural aspects. However, no prior research has been conducted on the use of Azerbaijani colloquial expressions in Nezami Ganjavi’s poetry.
Objectives, questions, and hypotheses
A better understanding of the commonly used proverbs and idiomatic expressions in Azerbaijan can offer more accurate explanations for some of Nezami’s more difficult verses. Given that folklore sometimes forms the foundation of greatest masterpieces (cf. Hedayat, 1999, p. 234), recognizing it can illuminate obscure aspects of these works. Persian proverbs are markedly present in Nezami’s poetry; his attention to oral literature, the use of idioms, ironies, colloquial words, and popular proverbs is considered his stylistic hallmark (cf. Zolfaghari, 2012 p. 106). The hypothesis behind this study is that some of Nezami’s ambiguous verses are rooted in proverbs and expressions from Azerbaijan. Thus, the central question is: How can understanding the folklore of different regions of Iran contribute to a better interpretation of the masterpieces of classical Persian literature?
Main Discussion
One of the challenges faced by readers of classical poetry may stem from a lack of familiarity with the cultural context in which the poetry was created. Nezami is among the poets whose verses can sometimes be difficult for readers to comprehend. One reason for this difficulty may be an insufficient knowledge of the culture of Azerbaijan, which influenced his poetry. As a Muslim who lived at the crossroads of various cultures and ethnicities in the Caucasus, Nezami was familiar with Iranian, Islamic, Turkish, Christian, and other traditions. The city of Ganjah, being both a frontier city with peoples from diverse ethnicities—Turks, Daylamites, Arabs, Kurds (cf. Zarrinkoub, 1993, p. 8)—and a center for trade and merchants (ibid., p. 10), provided an ideal setting for the convergence of different cultures. It appears that Nezami had deep knowledge of these cultures and consciously or unconsciously drew upon them when needed. By understanding the cultural background and the use of certain proverbs and idioms in his poetry, a more precise interpretation of some of Nezami’s challenging verses can be achieved.
Conclusion
This study examines Nezami’s poetry from the perspective of Azerbaijani folk literature. According to the findings, some of the proverbs in Nezami’s poems—often classified by commentators and compilers of proverb collections as his original creations—are not necessarily original or poetic proverbs. Rather, they are traditional, non-poetic sayings common in the cultural environment in which he lived, later he has incorporated them in his verse. Examples of such proverbs that appear verbatim, with slight modifications, or paraphrased in his poetry include: “So-and-so is like a lamb,” “Not even worth pouring water over her/his hands,” “What is done, is done,” “It is a soul, not a stone,” “Whoever led the donkey to the roof, must know how to bring it down,” “The tongue is a piece of flesh,” “Why take a donkey to a wedding? To carry water,” “The more wealth one has, the darker their fate,” “Eyes are ashamed before other eyes,” “Their face is harder than stone,” “To throw a stone at someone’s head”.
Furthermore, some idioms used in Nezami’s poetry are colloquial expressions not recorded in standard dictionaries of Persian but still prevalent in Azerbaijani culture today, such as: “Who are these people?” “Good night or good morning,” and so on.
Folklore reflects the thoughts and desires of various social classes, formed over time based on their experiences. Due to its persuasive power and, sometimes, its literary features, folklore and its various manifestations often transcend ordinary speech and enter the literary realm of poets, occasionally creating ambiguity in their poetry. Studying folklore in the works of poets can offer insight into one of their intellectual sources and contribute to a deeper understanding of their ideas and imagination. Like many other great Persian poets, Nezami makes extensive use of proverbs, which indicate his familiarity with various cultures and referring to them in his works. In addition to Persian proverbs, manifestations of Azerbaijani folk literature are also evident in his poetry. Familiarity with the proverbs and colloquial expressions of this region can aid in a better comprehension of Nezami’s poetry. In the present article, a number of proverbs and colloquial expressions found in Nezami’s works are analyzed, and an attempt is made to provide clearer interpretations of verses containing them. Furthermore, based on the findings of this study, it can be argued that some of the proverbs attributed to Nezami in various sources are not entirely his own inventions, but rather borrowed from his cultural environment.
Keywords: Folklore; proverbs; colloquial expressions; Azerbaijani culture; Nezami Ganjavi’s poetry.
Review of Literature
Several studies have addressed the presence of Persian folk culture and literature in Nezami’s poetry. In addition to the lists of proverbs presented by Vahid Dastgerdi at the end of Nezami’s works, various dictionaries and proverb collections have discussed them in some of his verses. Independent research, including academic theses, have also been conducted in this area. Some scholars have examined Azerbaijani proverbs specifically, which are the focus of this research. Among these are the article “Words, Concepts, and Turkish Proverbs in the Works of Nezami” by Javad Hey’at, which identifies twenty Turkish proverbs in Nezami’s poetry. “Drawing Strength and Inspiration from Azerbaijani Folklore” by Sadegh Mohammadzadeh, which discusses twenty-four Turkish proverbs; and “Introducing a Forgotten Proverb in Haft Paykar and Examining Its Mythological and Folkloric Aspects” by Karimi Ghareh-Baba, which explores a specific Azerbaijani proverb from Haft Paykar through mythological and cultural aspects. However, no prior research has been conducted on the use of Azerbaijani colloquial expressions in Nezami Ganjavi’s poetry.
Objectives, questions, and hypotheses
A better understanding of the commonly used proverbs and idiomatic expressions in Azerbaijan can offer more accurate explanations for some of Nezami’s more difficult verses. Given that folklore sometimes forms the foundation of greatest masterpieces (cf. Hedayat, 1999, p. 234), recognizing it can illuminate obscure aspects of these works. Persian proverbs are markedly present in Nezami’s poetry; his attention to oral literature, the use of idioms, ironies, colloquial words, and popular proverbs is considered his stylistic hallmark (cf. Zolfaghari, 2012 p. 106). The hypothesis behind this study is that some of Nezami’s ambiguous verses are rooted in proverbs and expressions from Azerbaijan. Thus, the central question is: How can understanding the folklore of different regions of Iran contribute to a better interpretation of the masterpieces of classical Persian literature?
Main Discussion
One of the challenges faced by readers of classical poetry may stem from a lack of familiarity with the cultural context in which the poetry was created. Nezami is among the poets whose verses can sometimes be difficult for readers to comprehend. One reason for this difficulty may be an insufficient knowledge of the culture of Azerbaijan, which influenced his poetry. As a Muslim who lived at the crossroads of various cultures and ethnicities in the Caucasus, Nezami was familiar with Iranian, Islamic, Turkish, Christian, and other traditions. The city of Ganjah, being both a frontier city with peoples from diverse ethnicities—Turks, Daylamites, Arabs, Kurds (cf. Zarrinkoub, 1993, p. 8)—and a center for trade and merchants (ibid., p. 10), provided an ideal setting for the convergence of different cultures. It appears that Nezami had deep knowledge of these cultures and consciously or unconsciously drew upon them when needed. By understanding the cultural background and the use of certain proverbs and idioms in his poetry, a more precise interpretation of some of Nezami’s challenging verses can be achieved.
Conclusion
This study examines Nezami’s poetry from the perspective of Azerbaijani folk literature. According to the findings, some of the proverbs in Nezami’s poems—often classified by commentators and compilers of proverb collections as his original creations—are not necessarily original or poetic proverbs. Rather, they are traditional, non-poetic sayings common in the cultural environment in which he lived, later he has incorporated them in his verse. Examples of such proverbs that appear verbatim, with slight modifications, or paraphrased in his poetry include: “So-and-so is like a lamb,” “Not even worth pouring water over her/his hands,” “What is done, is done,” “It is a soul, not a stone,” “Whoever led the donkey to the roof, must know how to bring it down,” “The tongue is a piece of flesh,” “Why take a donkey to a wedding? To carry water,” “The more wealth one has, the darker their fate,” “Eyes are ashamed before other eyes,” “Their face is harder than stone,” “To throw a stone at someone’s head”.
Furthermore, some idioms used in Nezami’s poetry are colloquial expressions not recorded in standard dictionaries of Persian but still prevalent in Azerbaijani culture today, such as: “Who are these people?” “Good night or good morning,” and so on.
Article Type: پژوهشی اصیل |
Subject:
Folklore
Received: 2024/11/28 | Accepted: 2025/02/22 | Published: 2025/07/29
Received: 2024/11/28 | Accepted: 2025/02/22 | Published: 2025/07/29
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