The Link between Local Literature and Folk Literature in the Novella The Olive Garden of the Eye by Hossein Mirkazemi
Document Type : پژوهشی اصیل
Authors
1
phd student
2
faculty member
Abstract
Fictional literature has various aspects, one of which is its regional character. In such stories, besides language, nature and imagery derived from the author’s specific region, local legends, indigenous music and melodies, popular beliefs, proverbs, local customs and rituals, etc., are manifested. Folk culture is closely linked to regional literature. Folk culture contrasts with official and elite culture, which unlike folk culture that is mostly oral, is written and related to the masses. When these elements are employed in literature, they give the works a distinctive regional color, known as regional literature. Understanding and analyzing fictional literature requires examining the relationship between the author and their environment; the conscious and unconscious influences the author receives from their environment and region, which affect the structure, meaning, and development of the narrative. Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi is among contemporary writers whose works prominently feature the regional character of northern Iran. This study descriptively-analytically examines the regional character in one of his works, The Olive Garden of the Eye, revealing the abundant presence of northern Iranian regional elements, especially from the Gorgan area: natural elements and related imagery, linguistic and lexical features, beliefs and customs, places, occupations, and even specific social and political events-all serving to naturalize the story’s setting, events, and the realism of its characters.
Research background
No prior research has been conducted on this topic in the works of Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi, but valuable studies exist in the field of regional literature. Gahraman Shiri has focused on regional literature since 2003 and more comprehensively in his book Schools of Fiction Writing in Iran (2008). Jafari (Ghanavati) studied oil and its reflections in Khuzestani fiction writers (2004). Sadeghi Shahpar researched the five regional domains in contemporary Iranian fiction (2012), and Moshtagh Mehr and Sadeghi Shahpar analyzed regional features in northern Iranian fiction (2010). Other studies include manifestations of Turkmen folk culture in the novel Yurt (2021) by Dastpisheh, Nabilu, and Tahmasebi, and beliefs and folk literature elements in the novel Savushun (2014) by Kafi and Ameri.
Theoretical framework
One aspect of fictional literature is its regional character, which aims to explain the reciprocal relationship between humans and their environment. This helps identify a writer’s stylistic identity and discover elements that distinguish one region from others. Understanding fictional literature requires analyzing the bond between the author and their environment. This study, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines the regional features in The Olive Garden of the Eye by Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi-a contemporary writer with a strong northern regional influence. The findings include:
Regional imagery: Includes tangible-to-tangible similes and three categories of similes, that is, animal, nature, and human-made products.
Local language and dialect: Language is a tool for communication and the first step to understanding a region’s culture. In this work, it appears in two forms:
Vocabulary and expressions: Mirkazemi, a graduate in education and a teacher in Golestan province’s towns and villages, is committed to preserving folk culture and uses abundant regional vocabulary and expressions in his works.
Laments and folk songs: Each region’s people have unique poems, songs, and laments, recited in different emotional states.
Reflection of the author’s regional material folklore (Customs and Rituals): Regional literature reflects the characteristics of a specific region, providing valuable information about beliefs, customs, proverbs, and folk themes. Mirkazemi, interested in folk literature, mentions various beliefs, customs, traditions, and local norms.
In the third chapter, titled Nowruz Stories, customs related to Nowruz such as Nowruz reading, copper cleaning, pottery making, Samanu cooking, and the Chaharshanbe Suri ceremony are described.
Architecture: Houses with tiled roofs and white stripes between them are depicted.
Occupations: The author describes various professions and duties of men and women from his childhood, reflecting his enthusiasm for preserving folk culture and customs.
Conclusion
The study shows that The Olive Garden of the Eye belongs to regional fiction. Although not all events, characters, and settings are exclusively from northern Iran, the story’s background is imbued with the color and character of northern Iran, especially the Gorgan region. Many features such as nature and regional imagery, local language and dialect, beliefs and customs, architectural style, occupations, and even some specific social and political events serve this purpose.
Additional Context on Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi
Born on 27 Ordibehesht 1321 in Gorgan, Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi is recognized as the father of Golestan’s fictional literature. Unlike predecessors like Nematollah Ghazi and Parvin Sepahri, who began in the 1950s and whose works were mostly serialized, Mirkazemi professionalized and expanded this literary form. His first non-fiction book Knowledge and Insight in the Village was published by the Ministry of Education. His first fiction work Alaman (meaning “raid” in Turkmen) is a collection of rural stories, some incomplete due to censorship. His famous novel Yurt is a historical, epic, and romantic work, noted for its majestic prose, literary devices, and linguistic richness, awarded at the Gardoon Literary Festival. He also collected folk tales and contributed to children’s literature innovatively.
Mirkazemi emphasizes the fusion of story and legend, believing that modern Iranian fiction can be enriched by integrating traditional folklore, as seen in Yurt, Zan va In Goman, and The Olive Garden of the Eye. He advocates for familiarity with Iranian and international folklore to innovate in storytelling.
Research background
No prior research has been conducted on this topic in the works of Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi, but valuable studies exist in the field of regional literature. Gahraman Shiri has focused on regional literature since 2003 and more comprehensively in his book Schools of Fiction Writing in Iran (2008). Jafari (Ghanavati) studied oil and its reflections in Khuzestani fiction writers (2004). Sadeghi Shahpar researched the five regional domains in contemporary Iranian fiction (2012), and Moshtagh Mehr and Sadeghi Shahpar analyzed regional features in northern Iranian fiction (2010). Other studies include manifestations of Turkmen folk culture in the novel Yurt (2021) by Dastpisheh, Nabilu, and Tahmasebi, and beliefs and folk literature elements in the novel Savushun (2014) by Kafi and Ameri.
Theoretical framework
One aspect of fictional literature is its regional character, which aims to explain the reciprocal relationship between humans and their environment. This helps identify a writer’s stylistic identity and discover elements that distinguish one region from others. Understanding fictional literature requires analyzing the bond between the author and their environment. This study, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines the regional features in The Olive Garden of the Eye by Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi-a contemporary writer with a strong northern regional influence. The findings include:
Regional imagery: Includes tangible-to-tangible similes and three categories of similes, that is, animal, nature, and human-made products.
Local language and dialect: Language is a tool for communication and the first step to understanding a region’s culture. In this work, it appears in two forms:
Vocabulary and expressions: Mirkazemi, a graduate in education and a teacher in Golestan province’s towns and villages, is committed to preserving folk culture and uses abundant regional vocabulary and expressions in his works.
Laments and folk songs: Each region’s people have unique poems, songs, and laments, recited in different emotional states.
Reflection of the author’s regional material folklore (Customs and Rituals): Regional literature reflects the characteristics of a specific region, providing valuable information about beliefs, customs, proverbs, and folk themes. Mirkazemi, interested in folk literature, mentions various beliefs, customs, traditions, and local norms.
In the third chapter, titled Nowruz Stories, customs related to Nowruz such as Nowruz reading, copper cleaning, pottery making, Samanu cooking, and the Chaharshanbe Suri ceremony are described.
Architecture: Houses with tiled roofs and white stripes between them are depicted.
Occupations: The author describes various professions and duties of men and women from his childhood, reflecting his enthusiasm for preserving folk culture and customs.
Conclusion
The study shows that The Olive Garden of the Eye belongs to regional fiction. Although not all events, characters, and settings are exclusively from northern Iran, the story’s background is imbued with the color and character of northern Iran, especially the Gorgan region. Many features such as nature and regional imagery, local language and dialect, beliefs and customs, architectural style, occupations, and even some specific social and political events serve this purpose.
Additional Context on Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi
Born on 27 Ordibehesht 1321 in Gorgan, Seyyed Hossein Mirkazemi is recognized as the father of Golestan’s fictional literature. Unlike predecessors like Nematollah Ghazi and Parvin Sepahri, who began in the 1950s and whose works were mostly serialized, Mirkazemi professionalized and expanded this literary form. His first non-fiction book Knowledge and Insight in the Village was published by the Ministry of Education. His first fiction work Alaman (meaning “raid” in Turkmen) is a collection of rural stories, some incomplete due to censorship. His famous novel Yurt is a historical, epic, and romantic work, noted for its majestic prose, literary devices, and linguistic richness, awarded at the Gardoon Literary Festival. He also collected folk tales and contributed to children’s literature innovatively.
Mirkazemi emphasizes the fusion of story and legend, believing that modern Iranian fiction can be enriched by integrating traditional folklore, as seen in Yurt, Zan va In Goman, and The Olive Garden of the Eye. He advocates for familiarity with Iranian and international folklore to innovate in storytelling.
Keywords
Subjects
منابع:
انوشه، حسن(1376)، فرهنگنامهی ادب فارسی، جلد دوم، تهران: سازمان چاپ و انتشارات.
انوری، حسن(1381)، فرهنگ بزرگ سخن، تهران: سخن.
حسنپور آلاشتی، حسین(1386)، «ویژگیهای زبان روایت در سه اثر از محمود دولتآبادی» کاوشنامه، سال هشتم، شماره 14، بهار و تابستان 1386، صص 139- 160.
دستغیب، سید عبدالعلی(1380)، «دربارهی ادبیات بومی»، نشریه ادبیات داستانی، شهریور و مهر 1380، شماره 56، صص 14 تا 17.
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------------(1382)، «پیش درآمدی بر مکتبهای داستاننویسی در ادبیات معاصر ایران» نشریه دانشکد ادبیات و علوم انسانی دانشگاه تبریز، شماره 189، صص 147-190.
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غلامحسینزاده، غلامحسین، حسینی، سارا(1395)، «جریانشناسی ادبیات اقلیمی فارسی از ابتدای سده تا پایان دههی هشتاد»، یازدهمین گردهمایی بینالمللی انجمن ترویج زبان و ادب فارسی دانشگاه گیلان، 17 الی 19 شهریور 1395، صص 142-125.
جعفری قنواتی، محمدجواد(1382). «در قلمرو ادبیات اقلیمی»، کتاب ماه ادبیات و فلسفه، اسفند و فروردین، ش 65 و 66، صص 145- 140.
میرعابدینی، حسن(1386)، صد سال داستاننویسیِ ایران، جلد سوم و چهارم، چاپ چهارم، تهران: نشر چشمه.
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میرکاظمی، سیدحسین(1389)، باغِ زیتونی چشم، آژینه: گرگان
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نوری، علی و قرهخانی، علی(1390). «تشبیهات اقلیمی در داستانهای شمال و جنوب ایران»، پژوهشنامهی زبان و ادب فارسی(گوهر گویا)، سال پنجم، شماره چهارم، پیاپی 20، زمستان 1390، ص 196-175.
نظری، زینب و همکاران(1399)، «بازتاب عناصر اقلیمی در داستانهای ابراهیم یونسی»، نشریه زبان و ادب فارسی دانشگاه تبریز، سال 73، شماره 241، بهار و تابستان 1399، 286-263.
انوشه، حسن(1376)، فرهنگنامهی ادب فارسی، جلد دوم، تهران: سازمان چاپ و انتشارات.
انوری، حسن(1381)، فرهنگ بزرگ سخن، تهران: سخن.
حسنپور آلاشتی، حسین(1386)، «ویژگیهای زبان روایت در سه اثر از محمود دولتآبادی» کاوشنامه، سال هشتم، شماره 14، بهار و تابستان 1386، صص 139- 160.
دستغیب، سید عبدالعلی(1380)، «دربارهی ادبیات بومی»، نشریه ادبیات داستانی، شهریور و مهر 1380، شماره 56، صص 14 تا 17.
شیری، قهرمان(1386)، مکتبهای داستاننویسی در ایران، چاپ دوم، تهران: نشر چشمه.
------------(1382)، «پیش درآمدی بر مکتبهای داستاننویسی در ادبیات معاصر ایران» نشریه دانشکد ادبیات و علوم انسانی دانشگاه تبریز، شماره 189، صص 147-190.
شفیعی کدکنی، محمدرضا(1366)، صور خیال در شعر فارسی، چاپ سوم، تهران: انتشارات نگاه.
شربتیان، یعقوب(داود)(1400)، مقدمهای بر مردمشناسی اعتقادات دینی با تکیه بر اعتقادات مردم ایران، تهران: آوای نور.
شیردست، عبدالرضا، پیروز، غلامرضا، صادقی، فاطمهزهرا(1400)، «خوانش برجستگیهای زبانیو بومی- اقلیمی در شعر معاصر مازندران»، فصلنامهی ادبیات پارسی معاصر، شمارهی 2، پاییز و زمستان 1400، صص 159- 192.
صادقی شهپر، رضا(1389). «نخستین رماننویسان اقلیمی در داستاننویسی معاصر ایران». کتاب ماه ادبیات و فلسفه، ش 40(پیاپی 154)، صص 39-35.
غلامحسینزاده، غلامحسین، حسینی، سارا(1395)، «جریانشناسی ادبیات اقلیمی فارسی از ابتدای سده تا پایان دههی هشتاد»، یازدهمین گردهمایی بینالمللی انجمن ترویج زبان و ادب فارسی دانشگاه گیلان، 17 الی 19 شهریور 1395، صص 142-125.
جعفری قنواتی، محمدجواد(1382). «در قلمرو ادبیات اقلیمی»، کتاب ماه ادبیات و فلسفه، اسفند و فروردین، ش 65 و 66، صص 145- 140.
میرعابدینی، حسن(1386)، صد سال داستاننویسیِ ایران، جلد سوم و چهارم، چاپ چهارم، تهران: نشر چشمه.
میرصادقی، جمال(1383)، داستاننویسهای نامآور معاصر ایران، تهران: اشاره، چاپ اول.
میرصادقی، جمال و میرصادقی(ذوالقدر)، میمنت(1377)، واژهنامه هنر داستان-نویسی، تهران: کتاب مهناز.
میرکاظمی، سیدحسین(1389)، باغِ زیتونی چشم، آژینه: گرگان
محجوب، محمدجعفر(1383). ادبیات عامیانهی ایران، جلد اول و دوم، چاپ دوم، تهران: نشر چشمه.
مشتاقمهر، رحمان و صادقی شهپر، رضا(1389)، «ویژگیهای اقلیمی در داستان-نویسی شمال ایران»، پژوهشنامهی زبان و ادب فارسی(گوهر گویا)، سال چهارم، شماره چهارم، پیاپی 16، زمستان 1389، ص 56-29.
نوری، علی و قرهخانی، علی(1390). «تشبیهات اقلیمی در داستانهای شمال و جنوب ایران»، پژوهشنامهی زبان و ادب فارسی(گوهر گویا)، سال پنجم، شماره چهارم، پیاپی 20، زمستان 1390، ص 196-175.
نظری، زینب و همکاران(1399)، «بازتاب عناصر اقلیمی در داستانهای ابراهیم یونسی»، نشریه زبان و ادب فارسی دانشگاه تبریز، سال 73، شماره 241، بهار و تابستان 1399، 286-263.
