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Showing 6 results for Bameshki
Volume 6, Issue 21 (9-2018)
Abstract
Regarding their beliefs and cultural roots, Indians and Iranians share cultural, ritual and literary features in common. These similarities may be seen in their literature which is the mirror of their beliefs and culture. We can see many analogous structures and motifs in the literature of the both countries. The well-known fairy tale which has been narrated on Fayez, the famous poet of Dashtestan region and his marriage with a fairy woman, is one of those similarities. This fairy tale is similar to the Indian myth entitled the "marriage of Ganga and Santanu" being narrated on Mahabharata. In this study, by structural analysis of two narratives, and based on Levi-Strauss ‘s “Structural Mythology” theory, the authors explored the structures, motifs and signs of both narratives. The analysis showed the similar structure of both narratives and the mythical roots of the Iranian fairy tale. Furthermore, the results of this study indicated that both narratives include the “fertility/infertility” binary oppositions in their deep structure.
Samira Bameshki,
Volume 9, Issue 34 (Summer 2016)
Volume 9, Issue 34 (Summer 2016)
Abstract
The plot of some narratives is structured in a way that it can encapsulate paradoxical and opposite states. Conceptualization of these kinds of narratives based on classic cosmology to which most of us are accustomed is not possible; another cosmology such as quantum cosmology, however, might be helpful. The text can be interpreted through “multiverse theory,” because in this cosmological framework of quantum mechanics the conjoining of the opposite states is possible. This article is an interdisciplinary attempt to analyze different kinds of the so-called “multiverse narratives.” The major question of this article is to explore the relationship between the notion of parallel universes in physics and narrative semantics. My purpose is to find out the function of the notion of parallel worlds in narrative semantics. Thus, I argue that various sorts of multiverse narratives invite the reader to reflect on the nature of space, time, identity, and memory by challenging the boundary between actual and virtual world.
Volume 12, Issue 1 (April & May 2021 (Articles in Persian) 2021)
Abstract
The theory of possible worlds presents a model for narrative semantics. This essay focuses on the use of possible worlds’ theory in narrative semantics with interdisciplinary approach. Conception of narration based on possible worlds’ perspective is the main purpose of this paper. Based on this perspective, plot is not only textual actual worlds which some events occur in it, but also include possible worlds which without regarding them, narrative semantics will remain incomplete. Such perspective is derived of semantics of modal logic; therefore, for explanation of this perspective attention to modal logic is necessary. Contemporary
semantic theories have three main branches: philosophical, formal and linguistic semantics. Linguistic semantics uses formal semantics as a semantic logic in order to make clear how the study of meaning is. In this essay it will be illustrated that logical semantics can be applied in narrative semantics. Consequently, if the readers include private worlds of characters or fictional minds’ worlds and various possible worlds in their reading, they will get more complete and more profound conception in reading narrative text, because a fiction is considered as a complete modal system and the mental representations of characters is equal with the PWs of a modal system. Some of accomplishments got, through foreshadowing to meaning of narrative text on the basis of this model, are the redefinition of plot and conflict notion. In order to apply this model in a narrative text, the binary Wandering Island and Wandering Cameleer novels by Simin Daneshvar has been chosen.
1. Introduction
The theory of possible worlds presents a model for narrative semantics. This essay focuses on the use of possible worlds’ theory in narrative semantics with interdisciplinary approach. Concept of narration based on possible worlds’ perspective is the main purpose of this paper. Based on this perspective, plot is not only textual actual worlds which some events occur in it, but also include possible worlds which without considering them, narrative semantics will remain incomplete. Such perspective is derived from semantics of modal logic; therefore, for explanation of this perspective attention to modal logic is necessary. Contemporary semantic theories have three main branches: philosophical, formal and linguistic semantics. Linguistic semantics uses formal semantics as a semantic logic in order to make clear how the study of meaning is. In this essay it will be illustrated that formal semantics can be applied in narrative semantics. By making interdisciplinary connections between semantic method in formal logic and its use in narrative semantics, a helpful correspondence was made between this method and how to explain meaning in narration. Before that narratologists use formal semantics in studying narrative semantics, linguistics had the benefit of this method to study meaning in language. Linguistics in linguistic semantics branch used the conception of possible world in semantics of modal logic and formal semantics to understand and explain the meaning. In this essay, it has been represented how narratologists have used this method to clear the ways for construction of the meaning of narration. The main question of this research is to determine what is the process of construction of the meaning in narration in the light of possible worlds’ prospective? And based on this, how the classical definitions of some narrative elements are redefined? And why? The importance of this subject lies in the significant place of concept of possible worlds in literary theory and illuminate the meaning of narrative from a new aspect. This concept is used in four area of literary theory: 1) theory and semantic of fictionality 2) theory of typology of fictional worlds 3) narrative semantics and 4) postmodernism poetics. Contemplation and research in every of these aspects needs a distinct research but now this essay is about the use of concept of possible worlds in narrative semantic domain because of its special use in understanding the meaning of narrative. This essay clears out that the concept of narrative on the basis of possible worlds’ perspective has effect on understanding the meaning of narrative more completely and thoroughly. Among narratologists, one of the preeminent figure who worked in this area and tried for conception of the fiction in form of a complete modal system was Mari Lure Ryan. Therefore, this essay focuses on Ryan’s collection of works from the methodological point of view. If we look at the meaning of narrative in terms of concept of possible worlds, in order to understand the logic of acts of fiction correctly, in narrative semantics we must consider potential events in characters’ mind that they think about alongside factual events which happen in story world. From this point of view, characters’ mental representations are understood as possible worlds of a modal system. Accordingly, textual actual world is the center of our “system of reality” and non-actual possible worlds also exist in this modal system of realism. Analysis of concept of a narrative is done in terms of its fundamental components and private worlds of characters is one the most important components of the meaning of a narrative. Therefore, how to understand the meaning of a fiction is directly related to whether include the fictional possible worlds or not. This attitude provides a special understanding of the dynamics of narrative acts. By considering fictional possible worlds (which include: wish world, obligations world, goals and plans world and fantasies world) in meaning of plot of narrative. In this new attitude, the plot of a fiction is the movement of different and various worlds in textual universe and in fact, it’s the complex and intricate connections among these textual actual and non-actual worlds that keep the engine of narrative machine on and add to its dynamism. In the same way, conflict as another important narrative factor, also is no longer traditionally defined as the problem or contrast between good or evil forces. For practical explanation of issues, two novels by Simin Daneshvar have been chosen: Wandering Island and Wandering Cameleer. Actually in these two fictional worlds only occurs one plotline (ATW) but many other plots (possible worlds or other alternative situations) parallel to actual fictional world are moving in story world which in no way without them the meaning of fiction can be understood. There are possible or suppressed plots in these two stories that a shadow of their tracks is shown in narrative but they remain unfinished and incomplete. Understanding the more complete meaning of these plot stories depends on considering this suppressed plotline. Possible worlds that “Hasti” could make them real but it did not happen. Conflict is also evident in possible worlds of characters in Wandering Island and Wandering Cameleer. In plot of this story the character who has least success in resolving his conflicts by aligning all his private possible worlds with textual actual world is "Salim". Consequently, if the readers include private worlds of characters or fictional minds’ worlds and various possible worlds, they will get more complete and more profound conception in reading narrative text, because a fiction is considered as a complete modal system and the mental representations of characters are equal with the PWs of a modal system. Some of accomplishments got, through foreshadowing to meaning of narrative text on the basis of this model, are the redefinition of plot and conflict notion. Understanding the story from the perspective of possible worlds’ theory sheds new light on the conception of the meaning of narrative, story conflict, personality psychology, fictionallity of events, genre studies and so on.
Asma Hosseini Moghadam, Samira Bameshki, Abolghasem Ghavam,
Volume 13, Issue 52 (Winter 2020)
Volume 13, Issue 52 (Winter 2020)
Abstract
Shirin and Farhad by Salimi Jerouni, composed in the ninth century AH, is adapted from Khosrow and Shirin by Nizami Ganjavi. The distinguishing feature of this poem is the addition of a mystical theme, as compared to its hypotext. The purpose of the current study was to investigate how the narrative structure of this poem has changed compared to Nizami Ganjavi’s Khosrow and Shirin, employing Gerard Genette’s theory of hypertextuality and also intentional interpretation. The researchers have also tried to show how Salimi Jerouni was able to connect his mystical thoughts with Khosrow and Shirin’s earthly love. Based on epitext and peritext analysis and through retrieval of the intention of the author, it was concluded that Salimi Jerouni had created a narrative, using quantitative transformation and pragmatic transformation that in its deep structure, illustrated mystical behavior. The characters of the story have gained symbolical interpretation, proportional to the mystical content of the poem and in line with the evolution of the hero (Khosrow) on the way of reaching the position of a perfect man.
Abdul Moqim Nejrabi, Samira Bameshki, Mohammad Javad Mahdavi, Rohollah Eslami,
Volume 18, Issue 69 (5-2025)
Volume 18, Issue 69 (5-2025)
Abstract
Literature, particularly the novel, offers a suitable platform for reflecting on and critiquing social and cultural issues. In Afghanistan, violence against women stems not only from political crises and wars but also from patriarchal structures, cultural and economic poverty, and weak support systems. This violence is systematically and institutionally reproduced across various dimensions of women's daily lives and within different layers of society. Afghan women writers in the 1390s (Solar Hijri) utilized the narrative capacities of the novel to expose various forms of structural violence against women, thereby shaping a critical discourse surrounding power inequalities between women and men. This study aims to investigate and analyze the representation of six types of structural violence—psychological, physical, economic, social, sexual, and legal—in two contemporary women's novels: The Brightness of Ashes by Zahra Yeganeh and Let Me Write for You by Nahid Mehrgan. The theoretical framework of this article is Kate Millett's "Sexual Politics" theory, which, through a structural analysis of gender relations, considers violence an instrument for perpetuating male dominance. The present research employs a qualitative content analysis method with a purposeful sampling method. Findings suggest that psychological violence is the most prevalent form of violence in both novels, and the representation of violence occurs through structures such as tradition, family, religion, and law. These representations have led to the creation of characters who react to dominance, some through resistance and others through acceptance. Contemporary women's literature not only exposes gender inequalities but also, by raising awareness, paves the way for social transformation.
Introduction
Narrative literature, by its very nature, possesses a unique capacity to depict the intricate complexities of social, cultural, and gender-based issues through an artistic and impactful language. Significantly, in Afghanistan during the 1390s (Solar Hijri), with the growing prominence of women writers and accompanying societal shifts, the novel emerged as a vital platform for articulating women's experiences and critiquing patriarchal structures. Indeed, within the Afghan social context, women are consistently exposed to various forms of violence due to protracted conflicts, deeply entrenched traditional structures, poverty, and institutional discrimination. Consequently, this cycle of violence is systematically reproduced, and contemporary literature, through its representation, has played a crucial illuminating and critical role.
The novels written by Afghan women authors in the 1390s have, therefore, provided fertile ground for critiquing unequal gender relations. These novels, blending artistic, narrative, and at times documentary styles, have not only reflected women's violent experiences but have also challenged dominant oppressive systems. As a result, this literary discourse re-examines power relations from a gendered perspective, highlighting the lived experiences of women in the face of structural dominance. Crucially, in these novels, women writers have not merely recounted individual oppressions but have also exposed the underlying social and institutional roots of violence.
Building on this context, this research specifically investigates the factors contributing to violence against women, the consequences of such violence, and the various types of violence present in the selected novels. The choice of these two novels from the 1390s, given the significant presence of women writers and the unique social characteristics of that period, thus offers a suitable foundation for analyzing the representation of violence in contemporary Afghan literature.
Research Questions
Introduction
Narrative literature, by its very nature, possesses a unique capacity to depict the intricate complexities of social, cultural, and gender-based issues through an artistic and impactful language. Significantly, in Afghanistan during the 1390s (Solar Hijri), with the growing prominence of women writers and accompanying societal shifts, the novel emerged as a vital platform for articulating women's experiences and critiquing patriarchal structures. Indeed, within the Afghan social context, women are consistently exposed to various forms of violence due to protracted conflicts, deeply entrenched traditional structures, poverty, and institutional discrimination. Consequently, this cycle of violence is systematically reproduced, and contemporary literature, through its representation, has played a crucial illuminating and critical role.
The novels written by Afghan women authors in the 1390s have, therefore, provided fertile ground for critiquing unequal gender relations. These novels, blending artistic, narrative, and at times documentary styles, have not only reflected women's violent experiences but have also challenged dominant oppressive systems. As a result, this literary discourse re-examines power relations from a gendered perspective, highlighting the lived experiences of women in the face of structural dominance. Crucially, in these novels, women writers have not merely recounted individual oppressions but have also exposed the underlying social and institutional roots of violence.
Building on this context, this research specifically investigates the factors contributing to violence against women, the consequences of such violence, and the various types of violence present in the selected novels. The choice of these two novels from the 1390s, given the significant presence of women writers and the unique social characteristics of that period, thus offers a suitable foundation for analyzing the representation of violence in contemporary Afghan literature.
Research Questions
- What types of structural violence against women are reflected in the novels The Brightness of Ashes and Let Me Write for You?
- What factors contribute to the manifestation of violence against women in the chosen novels?
- What consequences does violence have for the female characters in these two novels?
Literature Review
Existing research on Afghan women's literature have primarily focused on examining the status of women or analyzing feminine writing styles. However, a structural analysis of violence against women, particularly drawing upon feminist theories like Kate Millett's Sexual Politics, has received considerably less attention. In this seminal study, Millett argues that the relationship between men and women is not merely psychological or biological; rather, she analyzes it as a structural dynamic rooted in dominance. From this perspective, literature can serve as a powerful arena for exposing the mechanisms through which male dominance is perpetuated.
Methodology
This study employs a qualitative content analysis approach with a purposeful sampling strategy. The core of our investigation revolves around two women's novels from the 1390s (Solar Hijri), chosen specifically for the purpose of the present study. Our selection criteria included themes of gender-based violence, authorship by women writers, and the clear representation of patriarchal structures. Data analysis was conducted using Kate Millett's Sexual Politics theory, achieved through the identification and classification of recurring semantic and narrative patterns. The analytical process involved extracting meaningful units, coding concepts related to violence, and interpreting these within the broader context of male power structures.
Findings
Our analysis of The Brightness of Ashes and Let Me Write for You reveals that psychological violence is the most prevalent form of abuse across both novels. Furthermore, in The Brightness of Ashes, other forms of violence, including physical, economic, social, sexual, and legal, are also vividly portrayed. The female characters in these novels consistently confront patriarchal structures enforced through tradition, family, religion, and law. Significantly, these acts of violence lead to profound consequences such as depression, family disintegration, religious animosity, deep-seated resentment, and even suicidal ideation. These issues can be effectively analyzed through Millett's Sexual Politics theory, which frames violence as a tool for maintaining gendered dominance. Moreover, the contrasting responses of the characters Zahra and Mehrgan highlight two distinct approaches to gender-based violence: one characterized by resistance and the other by the acceptance of imposed roles. These divergent responses contribute to the formation of a critical discourse within contemporary Afghan women's literature, demonstrating how this body of work challenges gender oppression and advocates for social change.
Conclusion
This research concludes that 1390s Afghan women's novels not only mirror structural violence but also function as powerful instruments for critiquing patriarchal order. Kate Millett's Sexual Politics theory offers a robust framework, effectively illuminating the complex mechanisms of male dominance present in these literary works and enabling a more profound analysis of the gendered violence embedded within their narratives. By focusing on the intrinsic link between literature, gender, and power, this study underscores literature's vital role in fostering awareness, inspiring resistance, and ultimately laying the groundwork for meaningful social transformation.
Volume 18, Issue 73 (ِDOI 2021)
Abstract
Rereading Persian novels from the perspective of genre classification is a necessity that is lacking in literary research. The main issue in this research is to study this novel as a Picaresque novel and to show Picaresque features in it. The necessity of conducting this research is that in this article, we investigate why this novel can be considered as a picaresque novel and Haji Baba as a Picaro character, and in addition, the historical, social and cultural context of the period of writing this work and the relationship between this type of novel and the situational context of the time of text production is also studied. According to the obtained results, this novel is a Picaresque novel due to its satirical and critical language, simplicity of writing, first person perspective, realism and having an episodic plot and Haji Baba is also due to possessing traits such as lying, cunning, shrewdness, belonging to the lower classes of society, being constantly traveling, being dependent and on a ration of many masters, and not being morally committed means a picaro hero. Also, the unsettled political, social and cultural situation in the period of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, caused chaos, insecurity and disorder in the society in Iran at that time and emerge of picaro people, which eventually led to the appearing of this narrative genre which critical-satirical approach to the situation and having picaro people is one of its important features and has favorably depicted the conditions of that era.
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