Formula is a structural element of popular romances. This essay analyzes the situation of this element in the romance of Amir Arsalan. First, the concept of formula in the field of oral composition is defined; then functional arrangement of formulas is presented (formulas construct linear process of the story, shape the space of the story and dialogical formulas); afterward, through analyzing the subset of this three major groups, qualitative and quantitative effects of the factors such as literary tradition, naqqali's (storytelling) tradition, naqqal (the storyteller), addressee, writer, social setting and other factors depending on this romance have been demonstrated. It should be pointed out that among the above factors the influence of epic and lyric text and artistic prose, domination of metaphorical pole of language and poetic quality of the text and sensible effect of the addressee and the writer of romance (Naser al-din shah and Fakhr al-dowleh) on the process of creating the romance have been also influential.

Keywords: Amir Arsalan, Formula, Naqqali (storytelling), Popular

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